Deeper Decarbonization in the Ocean State: The 2019 Rhode Island Greenhouse Gas Reduction Study

The report finds that Rhode Island can feasibly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 70-80% by 2030, 2040, or 2050 by focusing on electrifying transportation and heating, improving energy efficiency, and transitioning the electricity grid to renewables. A critical finding is that updated science on methane leakage from natural gas infrastructure reveals that 2017 emissions were approximately 45% higher than previously estimated in 2016. While the 2050 pathway is relatively low-cost, the 2030 pathway requires a significant spending spike, resembling a 'Green New Deal' approach. The study emphasizes that reaching net-zero requires the complete phase-out of natural gas and further research into industrial decarbonization and carbon sequestration.

• Updated scientific data on methane leakage and its short-term impacts indicate that Rhode Island's 2017 emissions were approximately 45% higher than the estimates provided in the 2016 study.
• The study concludes that it is technically feasible to reduce the state's emissions by 70-80% by the target years of 2030, 2040, or 2050.
• Methane emissions from natural gas leaks are a primary challenge; methane is estimated to account for about 4 million metric tons of the state's approximately 15 million metric tons of emissions in the early 2020s.
• The most aggressive decarbonization pathway (2030) would require a significant investment spike, with spending reaching over $4.2 billion above the baseline in 2030.
• The 2050 decarbonization pathway is estimated to be nearly costless compared to the baseline until 2025, with supplemental mitigation costs eventually peaking at around $1.6 billion per year in the late 2030s.
• To achieve deep decarbonization, the state must 'green the grid' by replacing fossil fuel plants with renewables, with offshore wind potentially providing over half of all energy in the 2050 pathway.
• Transportation is the largest source of emissions; the study suggests a transition to electric vehicles (EVs) starting in the 2020s, though this creates a temporary 'bump' in indirect emissions before the grid is fully decarbonized.
• Heating emissions can be eliminated by switching to air source and ground source heat pumps, though the study assumes a 90/10 ratio in favor of the cheaper air source models.
• Behavioral and conservation changes (such as reducing vehicle miles traveled and adjusting thermostats) can reduce emissions by about 15% in the baseline scenario, but offer only a few percent reduction when added to aggressive technological decarbonization pathways.

APA

Veysey, J., Roberts, J. T., Traver, D., Cotler, B., Gross, B., & Kim, A. (2019). Deeper Decarbonization in the Ocean State: The 2019 Rhode Island Greenhouse Gas Reduction Study. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/deeper-decarbonization-in-the-ocean-state.pdf

Chicago

Veysey, Jason, J. Timmons Roberts, Daniel Traver, Brett Cotler, Benjamin Gross, and Angie Kim. Deeper Decarbonization in the Ocean State: The 2019 Rhode Island Greenhouse Gas Reduction Study. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2019. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/deeper-decarbonization-in-the-ocean-state.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Veysey |first1=Jason |last2=Roberts |first2=J. Timmons |last3=Traver |first3=Daniel |last4=Cotler |first4=Brett |last5=Gross |first5=Benjamin |last6=Kim |first6=Angie |title=Deeper Decarbonization in the Ocean State: The 2019 Rhode Island Greenhouse Gas Reduction Study |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=12 September 2019 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/deeper-decarbonization-in-the-ocean-state.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{veysey2019deeper, author = {Veysey, Jason and Roberts, J. Timmons and Traver, Daniel and Cotler, Brett and Gross, Benjamin and Kim, Angie}, title = {{Deeper Decarbonization in the Ocean State: The 2019 Rhode Island Greenhouse Gas Reduction Study}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2019}, month = sep, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/deeper-decarbonization-in-the-ocean-state.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }