Handy Law News

In the March issue of the Rhode Island Bar Journal, Seth writes of the dangers of continuing a “business-as-usual” approach to Rhode Island’s energy system, and the economic opportunities we can grasp by embracing new and transformative technologies and meeting the...

Rhode Island Energy has set record high electric rates for Rhode Island, a 47% increase per household and up to 51% for commercial accounts ('Record-high winter electric rates sought: ‘Something we’ve never seen before,’ ' News, July 21). The Journal reported that...

Helen joined Laura Bartsch and Joe Walsh in this Boston Globe commentary that asks RI's leadership to plan for the mechanics of delivering our own clean energy future instead of leaving it up to others and remaining at the end of the pipe by default.

National Grid has exited Rhode Island with $5.3 billion. The agency review process refused to allow advocacy for the public interest in rate reduction, allowing the utilities to continue capitalizing on their economic interests in infrastructure investment and their...

The three women behind What Cheer Flower Farm tore up a parking lot and planted a field of flowers, which they donate to those in need of good cheer. We are very proud to have helped them make that happen as their counsel. Read all about them in this Eco RI news...

Here’s more commentary questioning when our Providence Journal will see the path to a cheaper and cleaner energy future rather than wallowing away in business as usual: ProJo Spouts More Hot Air, Guest MINDSETTER™ Seth Handy Responding to the January 1, 2018 and...

Here is an article in Go Local Prov about our reply to a Providence Journal’s applause for ISO NE’s visit and call for more big power infrastructure in a closed meeting: Guest MINDSETTER™ Handy: ISO’s Visit & All That Gas The original Providence Journal piece is...

Seth Handy makes C-PACE presentation to the Rhode Island Bar Association with Michael Baer (Senior Advisor, RI Infrastructure Bank) and Jessica Bailey (CEO Greenworks Lending). You can WATCH THE PRESENTATION HERE...

Here’s coverage in the 9.5.17 Rhody Beat regarding our efforts to preserve historic waterfront farmland that the Town of Warren has planned to preserve under their Comprehensive Plan: Tug-of-war over Touisset development

Here’s Seth’s response to the Providence Journal’s advocacy for business as usual as the cost effective solution to our high energy rates - it hasn’t worked so far and is not the path RI’s leadership or our energy stakeholders have selected for a more affordable...

Our opinion piece in EcoRI speaks to the delicate balance between siting renewables and conservation.  Project siting is one big obstacle to timely implementation of a more economical and sustainable energy future. You can read it in EcoRI: Space Needs to be Made for...

Here’s Seth’s summer of 2017 Bar Journal article on our pursuit of an IRS exemption from a utility-imposed pass through tax on interconnecting renewable energy to the distribution system: The Return of Taxation Without Representation located on Page 9.  ...

We’ve hit the national press with our piece on Rhode Island’s pursuit of real value in its energy decisions: Our Energy Values Seth H. Handy Rhode Island laments its high cost of electricity for good reason; it is not competitive.  Few fully understand what drives...

Here's our July 5, 2017 Providence Journal opinion piece seeking a fact-based approach to reduced energy costs and highlighting a rapidly evolving new energy economy. My Turn: Seth H. Handy: Renewables can meet energy demand

Seth and our partner in advocacy Karl  Rábago wrote this piece for Renewable Energy World, trying to recast an all-too-common misperception around global competitiveness - high time to replace a race to the bottom with the opportunity in the commons. The Opportunity...

by Seth Handy Wind Energy Development (WED) originally planned to construct a 1.5 megawatt wind turbine located at 210 Piggy Lane in Coventry, Rhode Island (“COV1”).  WED applied to sell the electricity from COV1 to National Grid (NGrid) under the Distributed...

Here’s Seth’s opinion piece in EcoRI on our long and continuing battle against the dreaded interconnection tax: Taxing Renewable Energy for No Good Reason

Seth and Jeff Broadhead (Washington County Regional Planning Council) describe their experience with RI streetlights and how the City of Providence has achieved over 70% cost savings (projected $24 million in savings over the next 11 years). Read the story here: page...

We’re so proud that Helen Anthony has been recognized for our brand of True Stewardship. She received the Volunteer Award from Crossroads Rhode Island for her work in improving the lives of victims of domestic violence. Helen has volunteered at the Women’s Center...

GoLocal published this commentary on the influence recently brought to bear on legislation for the interconnection of renewable energy at the Rhode Island State House: Renewable Energy vs. Journal’s Censorship, Guest MINDSETTER™ Seth Handy

Nice recent summary of the good work of the Narragansett Bay Commission on turning around water quality in Narragansett Bay while also leading Rhode Island's energy transition. Read about here it in RISCPA.

The Independent Man standing on top of our Statehouse calls us to a new outlook on energy. Today there is precious little independence in Rhode Island's energy supply. Here at the end of the pipe we over-rely on foreign fuel supplies, generating facilities, miles of...

Providence leads the way to streetlight ownership and conversion for an anticipated savings of $24 million over the next 11 years. Providence to Convert Streetlights to LEDs https://youtu.be/kZv8ymTS-2Y [hr] Providence Expects to Save $24 Million by Purchasing...

Here’s an op ed that was published in the Providence Business News, “The Value of Homegrown Energy”.   It responds to this editorial in the previous issue.

The streetlight work we have done with the Washington County Regional Planning Council, the Partnership for RI Streetlight Management (PRISM) and the League of Cities and Towns is starting to make some serious hay in Providence! Read the Providence Journal article...

On March 24, Seth introduced Karl Rábago, a national expert on properly valuing our new energy economy, for his speech to the Rhode Island General Assembly and stakeholders.   Karl is our expert on these matters at the RI PUC.  He speaks clearly and compellingly about...

Wind energy projects have had mixed results in Rhode Island over the past decade - with a lot of discussion about whether they can be a successful and affordable source of power for the future. This week we begin the first of a two-part series - with a look at one...

Peter Arpin and I will be interviewing John Farrell of the Institute for Local Self Reliance next Wednesday, February 3rd at 1 pm on Renewable Now, 1320am or streaming live at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/renewable-now.  John is a leading thinker on "energy democracy"...

Our client, Wind Energy Development was not allowed to participate in the proceeding to review National Grid’s proposed Infrastructure Safety and Reliability Plan, but the Commission took our comments on the plan to heart and National Grid will now need to better...

Handy Law and his client, Wind Energy Development, moved to dismiss proposed fees by National Grid in this motion for summary disposition. Here is the latest article from EcoRI on National Grid's proposed fees. Here’s Seth’s op-ed on the access fee case that ran in...

On January 14, 2016, in the case of Depasquale v. Cwiek, the Rhode Island Supreme Court affirmed the Superior Court’s ruling that Wind Energy Development's North Kingstown wind turbine is exempt from taxation under Rhode Island law. We claimed this exemption based on...

National Grid has proposed to assess an access fee on distributed generation projects that don’t have any associated consumption load - public entity remote net metering and projects developed under RI’s Renewable Energy Growth Program - on the basis that those...

National Grid has a long history of omitting any consideration of system upgrades to better accommodate the interconnection of new renewable energy projects when it meets its Infrastructure Safety and Reliability planning requirement.  On behalf of Wind Energy...

Seth is quoted in ecoRI's article that you can read here: National Grid Proposes Fee on Wind and Solar Energy Read the PUC docket here.

Read Seth Handy's article in the Providence Journal: New lights, big savings, in RI posted September 14, 2015.

Check out Renewable Energy has Potential to Create Wave of New Jobs from Eco RI News and see what Seth and Wind Energy Development owner Mark DePasquale have to say.

RI Bar Journal  | Seth Handy The Rhode Island Bar Journal published this article in its November/December edition. It discusses the progressive economy envisioned in Article I, section 17 of the Rhode Island Constitution, the State's history of implementing and...

Providence Business News Editorial  | Seth Handy   Rhode Island is called to capitalize on a rich balance of economy and stewardship. In 1843, Article I, Section 17 of our constitution acknowledged our citizenry’s right to natural resources, empowering Rhode...