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Rhode Island Energy Policy Simulator

The Rhode Island Energy Policy Simulator (EPS) is a free and open-source computer model created by Energy Innovation LLC and RMI. It is adapted from software originally created by Energy Innovation LLC.

Model Download​

The Rhode Island Energy Policy Simulator may be used on this website through your web browser, or the full version may be downloaded to your computer by clicking the button below. Note that you will need to go through the steps explained on the EPS download page in order to install the required software and make use of the downloadable version of the model.

Download the Rhode Island Energy Policy Simulator

Click here for access to the previous version of the public model, including access to saved scenarios.

U.S. State EPS Methodology​

The U.S. State EPS Methodology page details our basic modeling assumptions, data sources, and methodology by sector. Additionally, we include information on the business-as-usual (BAU) and nationally determined contribution (NDC) scenario assumptions.

Customized Scenario Developed for Rhode Island 2022 Climate Plan Update​

In December of 2022, the Rhode Island Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4) voted to accept the Rhode Island 2022 Climate Update, an update to the state’s 2016 GHG emissions reduction plan. As part of this effort, Acadia Center, in collaboration with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), developed a customized scenario using the Rhode Island Energy Policy Simulator. The customized scenario, titled “Rhode Island 2020 Climate Plan Update”, can be found in the policy scenario selector drop-down menu on the Rhode Island EPS homepage.

The purpose of the scenario is to provide a high-level decarbonization analysis based on a select subset of key policies identified in the 2022 Climate Update and approximate the potential of these policies to assist the state in achieving Rhode Island’s overarching climate goal of a 45% reduction in GHG emissions below 1990 levels by 2030. The customized scenario estimates that the subset of key policies will reduce emissions approximately 39% below the 1990 baseline by 2030. The scenario does not represent an exhaustive list of all policies and actions the state plans to implement to achieve the 2030 emissions target.

Rhode Island’s 2022 Climate Update can be found here. Details on the EPS customized scenario analysis can be found in the technical appendix of the plan. Additionally, Acadia Center developed a research note highlighting some key results from the customized EPS scenario that can be found here.

Acknowledgement of Contributors and Reviewers​

We would like to acknowledge the following people who made the U.S. State Energy Policy Simulators possible.

  • Ashna Aggarwal, RMI
  • Olivia Ashmoore, Energy Innovation LLC
  • Kyle Clark-Sutton, RMI
  • Rachel Goldstein, Energy Innovation LLC
  • Nathan Iyer, RMI
  • Wendy Jaglom, RMI
  • Megan Mahajan, Energy Innovation LLC
  • Robbie Orvis, Energy Innovation LLC
  • Kayleigh Rubin, RMI
  • Addy Sonaike, RMI

Version History​

4.0.4 - April 1, 2025​

  • New Features
    • Updated to 4.0.4 EPS model platform
    • Adds a 'Federal Policy Repeal and Rollback' scenario to model the repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act and select EPA rules affecting greenhouse gas emissions
  • Data updates
    • Updates calculations for BAU vehicle tax credits
    • Fixes to BAU clean electricity tax credit calculations and CCS tax credit calculations
    • Updates all policy implementation schedules to start in 2025
    • Updates output currency year to 2024
    • Recalibrates the share of costs that to be covered to be considered profitable and capacity supply curves for the electricity sector
    • Updates BAU planned capacity additions to use latest EIA data on plants that have received regulatory approval
    • Updates natural gas prices based on latest gas futures data
    • Updates government revenue accounting settings to use deficit spending for all government cash flow types
    • Updates to capacity factors for new onshore wind
    • Changes the repayment period for capacity market changes to 3 years
    • Updates transmission construction costs to exlucde spur line costs, which are captured separately
    • Updates input-output data to use values from the Economic Census for some states and sectors
    • Fixes mistake in process emissions file to calculate methane emissions

4.0.2 - September 17, 2024​

  • Updated to 4.0.2 EPS model platform
  • Data Updates
    • Updated BAU to reflect components of the Inflation Reduction Act and latest EPA rules (see documentation)
    • Updated input data to the latest available version from data sources, including the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

3.4.3.3 - June 9, 2023​

  • Bug fix
    • Prevent rare Vensim error caused by negative ppriority values in ALLOCATE AVAILABLE function

3.4.3.2 - May 19, 2023​

  • Bug fix
    • Allow changes in capacity construction subsidies to affect electricity prices

3.4.3.1 - February 6, 2023​

  • Official launch of the U.S. State Energy Policy Simulators

Software License​

The Energy Policy Simulator (EPS) is released under the GNU General Public License version 3 (GPLv3) or any later version and is free and open-source software. Refer to the Software License page for full details.

Image Credits​

Newport, Rhode Island
Rahul Anand
https://unsplash.com/photos/Cbhg1-X3wJk
License: Unsplash License
Changes: Image has been cropped and a fade has been applied to the left side.