Governor Carcieri did not have to look far when he wanted someone to size up the energy situation in Rhode Island. In January, he appointed Andrew Dzykewicz, a 39-year veteran of the business who had been the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation’s energy specialist. Dzykewicz, 59, has also worked for the Grinnell Company, which made components for the electric power business; with a high-tech company involved in nuclear power; as a consultant; and was chief power engineer for the Maguire Group. He sat down earlier this month with the Phoenix.
What does the governor want you to do?
Well, the governor assigned me five tasks. One, is to ensure we get enough natural gas into the region, and therefore into the state. Two, he wants to reform the wholesale electric market. Third, is to provide some means to give low-income folks some tax relief, especially the elderly and the disabled. Fourth, we’re trying to find the places in Rhode Island that will allow us to make 15 percent of our native demand from wind resources. Finally, I’m doing an energy audit of the state, state operations.
The governor’s goal of getting 15 percent of the state’s energy from wind does not have a timetable. When does he hope to achieve that?
It’s going to take awhile. I’m working with the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation . . . [on a project called] Ocean State Winds. Right here are 18 responses to a request for qualifications from firms. We’ve culled it down to six, and . . . we’ve created a shortlist. These are superb proposals.
Based on what you’ve seen, are you confident something like this can take flight in Rhode Island?
Yes.
Why is that?
The 15 percent we’re hopeful we can achieve. What this is going to tell us is what the resource really is, how realistic the resource really is. We think we can probably get there. There’s no guarantee on it obviously, but we think we’ll get there. The interesting thing is since we announced this project, we’ve been getting calls from municipalities all over the state saying, “Do one here, do one here, do one here.”
Why did the governor decide to appoint you at this time?
The energy situation. I think he decided that somebody stepped up and got control over energy.
Was it the rise in prices and the volatility in the market?
Both. If you just look at what’s happened to energy prices over the last couple of years, it’s just gotten absolutely incredible. You know, you start to wonder about when it’s going to have an effect on the economy.
Has the state started with figuring out how to conserve energy?
Yes. Before I took this position, there was a series of individual facility audits going. And so far we’ve looked at the Department of Administration, the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, and T.F. Green Airport. Those four facilities can generate enough savings to pay for $40 million worth of [more energy efficient] equipment replacement and still guarantee us additional energy savings above the cost of putting that equipment in.
