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Get a Free QuoteRevolution Wind (704 MW) began delivering power on March 13, 2026 — powering 350,000+ Rhode Island homes. After overcoming a Trump administration stop-work order (overturned by federal judge in September 2025), the project marks a turning point in RI's aggressive Renewable Energy Standard: 44% renewable in 2026, rising to 100% by 2033. Here is what offshore wind and the RES mean for solar owners, electricity rates, and Rhode Island's clean energy future.
Revolution Wind adds 704 MW of zero-fuel-cost electricity to Rhode Island's grid. The state targets 44% renewable for 2026 and 100% by 2033. For solar owners, this means: (1) Your grid power is cleaner even when panels are not producing, (2) Rate increases to fund the renewable transition make your solar savings larger, (3) REG payments ($0.3155/kWh) and net metering continue unaffected, (4) Solar peaks midday while wind peaks overnight — they are complementary, not competing.
Revolution Windis a 704 MW offshore wind farm located approximately 15 miles south of Rhode Island in federal waters. Developed by Orsted and Eversource, the project uses 65+ Siemens Gamesa turbines to generate enough electricity to power roughly 350,000 homes — approximately one-third of Rhode Island's total households.
The project began delivering power to the RI grid on March 13, 2026, after overcoming significant political and legal challenges. Its completion makes Rhode Island one of the leading offshore wind states in the nation.
August 2025
Trump administration issues stop-work order on Revolution Wind
September 2025
Federal judge overturns stop-work order, construction resumes
March 13, 2026
Revolution Wind begins delivering power to RI grid
2026 (ongoing)
Full 704 MW capacity expected by year-end
In August 2025, the Trump administration issued a stop-work order targeting Revolution Wind and several other offshore wind projects nationwide. The order cited the need for additional environmental and permitting reviews, effectively halting construction that was already well underway.
Rhode Island's attorney general, along with Orsted and Eversource, immediately challenged the order in federal court. In September 2025, a federal judge overturned the stop-work order, ruling that:
Construction resumed immediately after the ruling, and the project reached commercial operation on schedule in March 2026. The legal victory set a significant precedent for other offshore wind projects facing similar federal challenges.
Rhode Island's RES requires electricity suppliers to source an increasing percentage of their power from renewable sources, reaching 100% by 2033. The 2026 target is 44%, with a 7% additional requirement for this year.
| Year | RES Target | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 30% | Met |
| 2024 | 37% | Met |
| 2025 | 40.5% | Met |
| 2026Current | 44% | In Progress |
| 2027 | 51% | Upcoming |
| 2028 | 58% | Upcoming |
| 2029 | 65% | Upcoming |
| 2030 | 72% | Upcoming |
| 2031 | 79% | Upcoming |
| 2032 | 90% | Upcoming |
| 2033 | 100% | Upcoming |
The 2026 RES target requires 44% of electricity sales to come from renewable sources, including a 7% additional requirement for this year. Compliance is achieved through Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) — one REC equals one MWh of renewable generation.
Revolution Wind alone generates approximately 2,400 GWh per year, representing a substantial portion of RI's approximately 7,500 GWh annual electricity consumption. Combined with existing solar, the Block Island Wind Farm (30 MW), and regional renewable procurement, meeting the 44% target is achievable.
Contracts executed before July 2022 are subject to a reduced compliance requirement of only 1.5% per year increase in renewable sourcing. This means some electricity sold in Rhode Island can legally fall short of the full RES schedule.
While this loophole affects a shrinking portion of the market as old contracts expire, it means RI's actual renewable percentage may slightly trail the headline RES target for the next several years. New contracts (post-July 2022) must meet the full schedule, and the loophole does not apply to Revolution Wind's PPA.
If you have solar panels (or are considering them), here is how offshore wind and the RES affect your investment.
Even when your solar panels are not producing (nighttime, cloudy days), the grid electricity you draw is getting cleaner every year. By 2033, it should be 100% renewable. Your environmental impact improves even beyond what your panels directly offset.
Revolution Wind's PPA and future renewable procurements contribute to rate increases. As a solar owner, rate increases actually make your investment more valuable: higher rates mean your solar savings and net metering credits are worth more. You are hedged against the very rate increases funding the clean energy transition.
RE Growth and net metering remain alternative enrollment paths independent of the RES and offshore-wind policy. A project does not receive both for the same generation during the RE Growth term.
Solar production peaks midday (10am-3pm), while offshore wind tends to produce more overnight and during storms. Together, they provide more consistent 24-hour clean energy. Your daytime solar exports are most valuable to the grid when wind production is lower, and wind fills the gap when your panels are not producing.
As Rhode Island electrifies heating (heat pumps) and transportation (EVs), total electricity demand will increase. Rooftop solar distributed across thousands of homes reduces the need for additional utility-scale infrastructure, lowering costs for everyone. Your panels are part of the clean grid, not just a personal savings tool.
One of the most important but least understood aspects of Rhode Island's clean energy transition is how rooftop solar and offshore wind complement each other throughout the day.
In the emerging RI energy system, a typical day looks like this: Overnight, wind turbines generate clean electricity and charge batteries. In the morning, solar panels ramp up as wind may taper. At midday, solar output peaks — homeowners export surplus to the grid, earning net metering credits. In the evening, as solar fades, wind picks up again, supported by battery dispatch (ConnectedSolutions events).
This complementary pattern is why Rhode Island's strategy of combining distributed rooftop solar, utility-scale offshore wind, and battery storage creates a more resilient, affordable, and clean grid than any single technology alone. Your rooftop solar is a key piece of this ecosystem.
We believe in transparency. Revolution Wind and the 100% RES do contribute to electricity rate increases. The offshore wind PPA price is above current wholesale rates, and the cost of building this infrastructure flows through to customer bills via the standard service rate.
However, there are important nuances:
If RI Energy rates rise from $0.30/kWh today to $0.35/kWh by 2030 (a reasonable estimate given the RES transition), your 8 kW solar system's net metering value increases from $2,430/year to $2,940/year — an extra $510/year in savings. Meanwhile, your REG income remains a locked $2,641/year. Solar owners are the segment best positioned to benefit from the clean energy transition because rate increases improve your return on investment.
Revolution Wind is a 704 MW offshore wind farm located approximately 15 miles south of Rhode Island in federal waters. At full capacity, it generates enough electricity to power approximately 350,000 homes, making it one of the largest operating offshore wind projects in the United States. The project uses 65+ Siemens Gamesa turbines.
In August 2025, the Trump administration issued a stop-work order targeting several offshore wind projects, including Revolution Wind. The order cited permitting review concerns. In September 2025, a federal judge overturned the stop-work order, ruling that construction permits were valid and the order exceeded executive authority. Construction resumed immediately, and Revolution Wind began delivering power in March 2026.
The Rhode Island RES requires electricity suppliers to source an increasing percentage of their power from renewable sources. The target reaches 100% by 2033. For 2026, the requirement is 44% renewable, with an additional 7% requirement added for this year. Compliance is enforced through Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) that suppliers must purchase or generate.
There is a loophole for contracts executed before July 2022: those suppliers only need to increase their renewable percentage by 1.5% per year instead of meeting the full RES schedule. This means some electricity sold in Rhode Island may not reach 100% renewable by 2033. However, the loophole affects a shrinking portion of supply as old contracts expire and new ones must meet the full standard.
Revolution Wind's power purchase agreement (PPA) was negotiated at rates above current wholesale electricity prices. In the short term, this contributes to rate increases as customers fund the transition through the standard service rate. However, offshore wind has no fuel costs — once built, operating costs are low and predictable. Over the 20-year PPA, wind energy is expected to provide price stability that fossil fuel generation cannot match, particularly as carbon regulations tighten.
Rooftop solar and offshore wind are complementary, not competing. Solar produces most of its energy midday (10am-3pm), while offshore wind tends to produce more overnight and during storms when solar output drops. Together, they provide more consistent 24-hour clean energy generation. For a solar homeowner in RI, this means the grid power you draw during evening hours is increasingly clean, and your solar exports during the day offset peak demand when the grid needs it most.
For solar owners, 100% RES means: (1) Your grid power is increasingly clean even when your panels are not producing. (2) Your solar exports are highly valued by the grid during peak daytime demand. (3) REG payments ($0.3155/kWh) and net metering credits continue regardless of the RES. (4) Rate increases to fund the renewable transition make your solar savings even more valuable — the higher the retail rate, the more you save by generating your own power.
Rhode Island has met or exceeded its RES targets every year through 2025. Revolution Wind (704 MW) significantly accelerates progress for 2026. However, reaching 100% by 2033 requires substantial additional capacity. The state is pursuing additional offshore wind procurements, large-scale solar, and community solar expansion. The 7% additional requirement for 2026 is aggressive but achievable with Revolution Wind online. The biggest risk is the pre-July 2022 contract loophole, which could slow total grid decarbonization.
Complete guide to REG, REF, net metering, and tax exemptions.
Why RI rates keep rising and what it means for solar savings.
Current solar panel pricing and payback period in Rhode Island.
$0.3155/kWh guaranteed for 15 years — RI's most valuable solar incentive.
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As Rhode Island moves toward 100% renewable energy, solar owners are the best-positioned residents — earning REG income, saving with net metering, and hedging against the rate increases that fund the transition. Get your free solar quote from NuWatt Energy today.