Lead by Example: Clean Energy and Sustainability Future

On May 9, 2023, Governor Dan McKee signed Executive Order (EO) 23-06, which challenges state agencies to “lead by example…to move Rhode Island toward a cleaner, more affordable, reliable, and equitable clean energy future.” The EO directed government agencies to “cooperate with Lead by Example and make every effort to support sustainable initiatives within their facilities.” The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has advanced the Lead by Example effort as part of a Sustainability Initiative focusing on sustainable materials management and clean energy projects.

The Lead by Example dashboard showcases the progress and plans in motion to provide electric vehicle charging stations for the public and programmatic needs, solar panels, and solar canopies to generate electricity, wind power to generate electricity, battery storage for onsite electricity storage, LED lighting to reduce electricity usage, and water filler stations to eliminate single-use plastic bottles at our larger state beaches. Additionally, DEM continues shifting fleet vehicles from internal combustion engines to hybrid and electric vehicles.

Data as of September 2024. DEM plans to update the data in this dashboard every 6 months.

Green Energy & Sustainability at DEM Facilities

🟢 Active  |  🟡 Active with expansion plans/desires  |  🔵 Not Active, plans/desires for installation  |  🔴 Exists, but not working

DEM Fleet Management

The below data represents current class 1,2 DEM vehicles replacement on a 1:1 ratio. Replacement potentials are based on targeted replacements due to age, mileage, repair costs, budget, and the specific needs of the DEM program.

Electric Vehicles 

(EV and Plug-in)
Year
Actual 
start of year
Purchase
Retire
Planned 
end of year
2025

24

6

0

30

2027

30

5

0

35

2030

35

5

0

40

Total Change
16
0
 

 

DEM's fleet of plug in hybrid electric vehicles charging

Not Electric Vehicles

(Hybrid and Conventional)
Year
Actual 
start of year
Purchase
Retire
Planned 
end of year
2025

119

0

6

113

2027

113

0

5

108

2030

108

0

5

103

Total Change
0
16
 
A green dumptruck with brush in the back with the DEM logo on the door
Electric vehicle charging stations at East Matunuck State Beach

Overall Metrics 

Year
Total Electric Vehicles
Total Vehicles
%
2025

30

143

21%
2027

35

143

24%
2030

40

143

28%

 

Fleet State Transition Targets for DEM

Infographic image showing projected versus targeted fleet change

Additional Resources