Why It Matters
The agreement marks a significant step toward meeting Rhode Island’s statutory decarbonization goals while navigating federal regulatory disruptions in the renewable energy sector.
What Happened
Rhode Island Energy announced on Tuesday that it has reached a tentative agreement to purchase wind-generated electricity from an onshore facility located in northern Maine. The utility company entered into the arrangement with Clearway Energy Group, the project developer responsible for the development.
The deal is not yet final. It remains subject to ongoing pricing negotiations and must receive approval from the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission before it can be implemented. Greg Cornett, president of Rhode Island Energy, emphasized the company’s alignment with state mandates.
“We are committed to helping advance a reliable, safe, affordable, and increasingly clean energy future for our customers, while supporting Rhode Island’s 2021 Act on Climate requirements,” Cornett told the Rhode Island Current.
The project comes amid broader federal regulatory uncertainty. Federal regulators paused permits for land-based wind and solar projects starting in July 2025. Project developers and Democratic attorneys general, including Rhode Island’s Peter Neronha, moved to overturn the freeze. A federal judge in Oregon issued a preliminary injunction on August 6, ordering federal regulators to resume permit reviews.
Notably, the Maine wind farm was not among the 155 projects affected by the federal permit freeze. Maine utility regulators had already authorized the wind array and its associated high-voltage transmission line in August. Developers were selected through a competitive request for proposals process that included input from Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont.
By the Numbers
150 megawatts — Amount of wind-powered electricity Rhode Island Energy agreed to buy
800-megawatt — Total capacity of the planned Maine wind farm
600 megawatts — Capacity Maine tentatively agreed to buy
200 megawatts — Remaining capacity available for purchase
73,000 homes — Number of homes Rhode Island Energy’s purchase would power
2,500 construction jobs — Expected job creation from the project
$2.4 billion — Expected economic output from the project
$400 million — Estimated benefits to Maine ratepayers
Zoom Out
The Maine facility represents the largest onshore wind farm in New England. Its development highlights a regional shift toward cross-border energy procurement as states seek to meet renewable targets despite federal permitting delays.
Rhode Island continues to pursue multiple avenues for clean energy expansion. The state’s Revolution Wind offshore project remains on schedule for completion by the end of the year. That 65-turbine installation, located south of Rhode Island, is expected to provide electricity sufficient to power 350,000 homes across Rhode Island and Connecticut.
The contrast between the onshore Maine project and the offshore Revolution Wind initiative illustrates the state’s diversified approach to renewable energy infrastructure. While federal policy shifts have created headwinds for some projects, others proceed through established regulatory channels or existing authorizations.
What’s Next
Rhode Island Energy must finalize its contract with Clearway Energy Group and submit pricing details to the Public Utilities Commission. The timeline for completing these steps was not immediately available.