Solar Panels with sun and birds flying overhead
RePower Audubon: Campaign to Invest in Our Clean Energy Future

Climate Change is a Serious Threat to Our Birds, Our State, Our World.

Over one-third of all birds breeding on our wildlife refuges are experiencing long-term decline and are at high risk of losing their homes and food sources due to climate change. Science highlights the problem, and Audubon is working on the solutions. To avoid catastrophic climate change, everyone must rapidly reduce the amount of planet-warming emissions they produce. The best way to do that is to electrify everything, and get our electricity from fossil fuel-free sources.


  • Climate action can’t wait, and we want to move fast.

    By 2030 Audubon will electrify its buildings, vehicles, and grounds equipment, and add enough solar panels at our facilities to produce the same amount of electricity as we consume. This will get us to “net-zero”.

    By 2040 we will move further, running 24/7/365 off clean electricity. We’re calling this “true-zero,” - the goal we must all reach if we are to halt, and reverse, global warming.

  • Rendering of Nature center & Aquarium Solar Carports

 


OUR BOLD PLAN
 

The Roadmap to Net-Zero

  1. Update plumbing, electrical, and heating systems that will make Audubon facilities more energy efficient and save thousands of dollars a year.
    Completion: 2027
     
  2. Install heat pumps that run on electricity, rather than natural gas, propane, or oil, and to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
    Completion: 2028
     
  3. Generate the amount of energy used by the organization by adding ground and roof-mounted solar arrays and two parking lot solar canopies.
    Completion: 2029
     
  4. Spread the word about the benefits of clean energy to Audubon members, visitors, and the public through signage, education programs, and focused workshops for nonprofit and small business leaders interested in going net-zero.
    Completion: 2040.    
     
  5. Invest in battery storage after 2030 to use only our own generated power and meet the goal of true-zero emissions by 2040.
    Completion: 2040

     

The Projects

Addition of Photovoltaic Systems

On-site solar panels will produce Audubon’s energy needs; the colored areas below represent the additional increased number of panels needed to meet the virtual energy demand of the entire organization.
Click the image to enlarge.

Solar Carport Installation

The Audubon Society of Rhode Island was joined by government officials, community leaders, project partners and supporters on September 25, 2026, to break ground on a solar carport in Bristol, Rhode Island. This transformative renewable energy project will convert the parking area at the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium into a clean-energy asset, generating over 360,724 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, while providing covered parking for visitors. 

Together with a companion carport planned for Audubon Headquarters in Smithfield, Rhode Island and the replacement of fossil fuel HVAC systems with all electric heat pump HVAC systems at both locations, these solar installations will enable the Audubon Society of Rhode Island to achieve its net zero goal by the end of 2027, three years ahead of schedule.

Construction of the solar carport at the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium is expected to be completed this fall. The solar carport at Audubon Headquarters in Smithfield will be constructed in 2027.

Video provided by Rhode Island Capitol TV

Improvements to Portfolio Energy Usage

In 2023, Audubon undertook a full energy audit with Consulting Energy Services, Inc. (CES). The engineers from this firm evaluated all of Audubon’s buildings. Looking to prioritize energy use and system efficiency, the firm developed the most efficient and cost-effective plan to bring Audubon to net-zero. The graph below highlights the major improvements needed to reach this goal.
Click the image to enlarge.

 


LET'S RePOWER AUDUBON TOGETHER
 

Audubon is raising $4.25 million to electrify all of our buildings and properties and make substantial investments in solar power. With this initiative, Audubon will be one of the first nonprofits in Rhode Island to go net-zero and become a leader in climate resilience.

Our Shared Progress:

$0.00
$4,250,000.00
43%
We have raised $1,838,900.00 of our $4,250,000.00  goal.


Help Us Invest in A Clean Energy Future

Your support is critically important to helping us reach our sustainability goals. Equally important, your support allows Audubon to better align our operations with our long-standing mission of protecting Rhode Island’s natural resources.

Other Ways to Give:

  • Donor Advised Fund
  • Family Foundation
  • Bequest
  • Donation of Assets
  • Stock/Wire Transfer or IRA Distribution - Instructions Here
  • Corporate Sponsorship

For more ways to help, please contact Jen Cleland at 401-949-5454 ext. 3018.
 

 


RESOURCES
 

 

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