Rhode Island Energy FY 2026 Gas ISR Plan
Testimony for Conservation Law Foundation on Rhode Island Energy’s gas investment plan and how it should evaluate alternatives to replacing pipelines.
Michael J. Walsh submitted this testimony on behalf of Conservation Law Foundation in the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission’s review of Rhode Island Energy’s fiscal year 2026 Gas Infrastructure, Safety, and Reliability plan (Docket 24-55-NG).
The testimony challenges the company’s explanation of how its investment plan aligns with Rhode Island’s Act on Climate. It examines the company’s approach to retiring sections of the gas network and recommends applying its screening criteria to both proposed pipeline projects and longer-term replacements.
The central recommendation is to put those criteria to work: identify where coordinated building upgrades and electrification could avoid gas infrastructure investment, then assess the practical requirements and allocation of costs. These are the witness’s recommendations, not a statement of the Commission’s findings.