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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Carson, Cortvriend, Blazejewski, Kazarian, Ruggiero,
Donovan, Speakman, Knight, McEntee, and Alzate

     Date Introduced: February 10, 2021

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. The title of Chapter 42-6.2 of the General Laws entitled "Resilient Rhode

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Island Act of 2014 - Climate Change Coordinating Council" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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CHAPTER 42-6.2

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Resilient Rhode Island Act of 2014 - Climate Change Coordinating Council

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CHAPTER 42-6.2

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2021 ACT ON CLIMATE

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     SECTION 2. Sections 42-6.2-1, 42-6.2-2, 42-6.2-3, 42-6.2-7 and 42-6.2-8 of the General

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Laws in Chapter 42-6.2 entitled "Resilient Rhode Island Act of 2014 - Climate Change

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Coordinating Council" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-6.2-1. Creation -- Members.

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     There is hereby established within the executive branch of state government a Rhode Island

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executive climate change coordinating council (the "council") comprised of officials from state

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agencies with responsibility and oversight relating to assessing, integrating, and coordinating

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climate change efforts. The council shall include, but not be limited to, the following members: the

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director of the department of environmental management; the executive director of the coastal

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resources management council; the director of the department of administration; the director of the

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department of transportation; the director of the department of health; the director of the emergency

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management agency; the commissioner of the office of energy resources; the director of the

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division of planning; the executive director of the Rhode Island infrastructure bank; the

 

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administrator of the division of public utilities and carriers; the chief executive officer of the Rhode

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Island public transit authority; the secretary of the executive office of health and human services;

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and the chief executive officer secretary of the Rhode Island commerce corporation.

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     42-6.2-2. Purpose of the council.

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     (a) The council shall have the following duties:

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     (1) Assess, integrate, and coordinate climate change efforts throughout state agencies to

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reduce emissions, strengthen the resilience of communities and infrastructure, and prepare for the

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effects on climate change, including, but not limited to, coordinating vulnerability assessments

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throughout state government;

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     (2)(i) No later than December 31, 2017 December 31, 2025, and every five (5) years

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thereafter, submit to the governor and general assembly a an updated plan, following an opportunity

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for public comment, that includes strategies, programs, and actions to meet economy-wide

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enforceable targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions as follows:

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     (A) Ten percent (10%) below 1990 levels by 2020;

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     (B) Forty-five percent (45%) below 1990 levels by 2035 2030;

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     (C) Eighty percent (80%) below 1990 levels by 2050 2040;

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     (D) Net-zero emissions by 2050.

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     No action shall be brought pursuant to: subsection (a)(2)(i)(B) of this section before 2031,

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pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(i)(C) of this section before 2041, and pursuant to subsection

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(a)(2)(i)(D) of this section before 2051.

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     (ii) The plan shall also include procedures and public metrics for periodic measurement,

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not less frequently than once every five (5) years, of progress necessary to meet these targets and

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for evaluating the possibility of meeting higher targets through cost-effective measures.

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     (ii) The plan shall specifically study the effectiveness of the state and/or multi-state carbon

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pricing program to incentivize institutions and industry to reduce carbon emissions. The study shall

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include the effectiveness of allocating revenues generated from such carbon pricing program to

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fund enhanced incentives to institutions and industry for targeted efficiency measures; projected

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emissions reductions; economic impact to businesses; any economic benefits to Rhode Island; and

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impacts to the state's economic competitiveness if the program were implemented.

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     (iii) The plan shall address in writing the annual input that is provided to the council by its

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advisory board, as set forth in § 42-6.2-4, and its science and technical advisory board, as set forth

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in § 42-6.2-5, in their reports to the council.

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     (iv) If a plan directs an agency to promulgate regulations, then the agency must do so by

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either issuing an advance notice of proposed rulemaking, as set forth in § 42-35-2.5, no later than

 

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six (6) months after the plan is released or by issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking, as set forth

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in § 42-35-2.7, no later than one year after the plan is released, unless the plan specifies another

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timeframe for an advance notice of rulemaking or a notice of rulemaking.

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     (v) The plan shall include an equitable transition to climate compliance for environmental

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justice populations, redress past environmental and public health inequities, and include a process

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where the interests of and people from populations most vulnerable to the effects of climate change

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and at risk of pollution, displacement, energy burden, and cost influence such plan.

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     (vi) The plan shall identify support for workers during this equitable transition to address

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inequity in the state by creating quality and family-sustaining clean energy jobs that pay wages and

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benefits consistent with or that exceed area wage and labor standards. The plan shall provide for

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the development of programs that directly recruit, train, and retain those underrepresented in the

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workforce, including women, people of color, indigenous people, veterans, formerly incarcerated

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people, and people living with disabilities.

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     (vii) The requirements under this subsection shall be subject to the enforcement provisions

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of § 42-6.2-10 effective in 2026.

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     (viii) No later than December 31, 2022, the council shall submit to the governor and the

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general assembly an update to the greenhouse gas emission's reduction plan dated "December

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2016" which shall not be subject to the requirements of § 42-6.2-2(a)(2)(ii) through (a)(2)(vi). No

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action shall be brought pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(viii) of this section before 2023.

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     (3) Advance the state's understanding of the effects on climate change including, but not

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limited to, sea level rise, coastal and shoreline changes, severe weather events, critical infrastructure

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vulnerability, food security, and ecosystem, economic, and health impacts, including the effects of

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carbon pollution on children's health;

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     (4) Identify strategies to prepare for these effects and communicate them to Rhode

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Islanders, including strategies that incentivize businesses, institutions, and industry to adapt to

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climate change;

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     (5) Work with municipalities to support the development of sustainable and resilient

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communities;

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     (6) Identify and leverage federal, state, and private funding opportunities for emission

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reduction and climate change preparedness and adaption work in Rhode Island;

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     (7) Advise the governor, the general assembly, and the public on ways to ensure that Rhode

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Island continues to be a national leader in developing and implementing strategies that effectively

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address the challenges on climate change;

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     (8) Work with other New England states to explore areas of mutual interest to achieve

 

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common goals; and

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     (9) Identify and facilitate opportunities to educate the public about climate change and

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efforts throughout state agencies and municipalities to address climate change.

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     (b) The council is encouraged to utilize the expertise of Rhode Island universities and

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colleges in carrying out the duties described in subsection (a) of this section, specifically to ensure

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that the state's efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change are based on the best available

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scientific and technical information, and to optimize the contribution by the universities and

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colleges of their expertise and experience in research, analysis, modeling, mapping, applications to

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on-the-ground situations, technical assistance, community outreach, and public education.

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     42-6.2-3. Support for the council.

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     To support the council's work, state agencies shall:

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     (1) Assist the council in implementing the provisions of this chapter;

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     (2) Develop short-and long-term greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies and track

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the progress of these strategies;

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     (3) To Lead by example and, to the maximum extent feasible, purchase alternative fuel,

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hybrid, and electric vehicles that produce lower total emissions of greenhouse gases and develop

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programs to encourage state employees to reduce their vehicle miles and use sustainable

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transportation alternatives, including public transit systems;

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     (4) Implement programs to achieve energy savings in state and municipal buildings to

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reduce greenhouse gases, reduce expenditures on energy, and stimulate economic and job

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development;

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     (5) Increase the deployment of in-state generation of renewable energy and energy

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efficiency;

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     (6) Support efforts to expand Rhode Island's green economy and develop green

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infrastructure;

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     (7) Assess the vulnerability of infrastructure and natural systems, including, but not limited

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to, roads, bridges, dams, and wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities, and riverine and

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coastal habitats, to impacts on climate change and recommend implement strategies to relocate or

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protect and adapt these assets;

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     (8) Work with relevant academic institutions and federal agencies to assess the threats of

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sea level rise, erosion and storm surge, and communicate these assessments and threats, along with

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potential tools to address them, to state agencies and affected communities;

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     (9) Develop plans, policies, and solutions based on the latest science to ensure the state

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continues to have a vibrant coastal economy, including protection of critical infrastructure, and a

 

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vibrant and resilient food system that can provide affordable access to healthy food for all Rhode

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Islanders;

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     (10) Develop a climate and health profile report that documents the range of Address

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recommendations to reduce health impacts associated with climate change and identifies protect

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the most vulnerable populations most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and at risk of

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pollution, displacement, energy burden, and cost;

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     (11) Encourages municipalities to incorporate climate change adaptation into local hazard

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mitigation plans and, when feasible, into hazard mitigation projects; and

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     (12) Take affirmative steps to eliminate and avoid duplication of effort through consistent

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coordination between agencies and programs, and pooling of resources, so as to make the most

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cost-efficient use of the state resources and provide the most effective services.; and

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     (13) Foster public transparency by developing public metrics and an online public

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dashboard that shall track both emissions reductions and sources of energy consumed by the state.

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The metrics and the dashboard shall be updated at least annually.

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     42-6.2-7. Reporting.

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     No later than May 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, the council shall issue a report of its

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findings, recommendations, and progress on achieving the purposes and requirements of this

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chapter.

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     42-6.2-8. Powers and duties of state agencies -- Exercise of existing authority.

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     Consideration of Addressing the impacts on climate change shall be deemed to be within

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the powers, and duties, and obligations of all state departments, agencies, commissions, councils,

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and instrumentalities, including quasi-public agencies, and each shall be deemed to have and to

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exercise among its purposes in the exercise of its existing authority, the purposes set forth in this

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chapter pertaining to climate change mitigation, adaption adaptation, and resilience in so far as

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climate change affects the its mission, duties, responsibilities, projects, or programs of the entity.

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Each agency shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to meet the

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greenhouse gas emission reduction mandate established by § 42-6.2-9.

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     SECTION 3. Chapter 42-6.2 of the General Laws entitled "Resilient Rhode Island Act of

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2014 - Climate Change Coordinating Council" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following

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sections:

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     42-6.2-9. Statewide greenhouse gas emission reduction mandate.

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     Mandatory targets for emissions reduction:

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     It is hereby established that the state shall reduce its statewide greenhouse gas emissions

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to the targets set forth in § 42-6.2-2(a)(2)(i), as those targets may be from time to time be revised,

 

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and that achieving those targets shall be mandatory under the provisions of this chapter. The targets

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at the time of the enactment of this act are that greenhouse gas emissions shall be ten percent (10%)

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below 1990 levels by 2020, shall be forty-five percent (45%) below 1990 levels by 2030; eighty

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percent (80%) below 1990 levels by 2040, and shall be net-zero emissions by 2050.

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     42-6.2-10. Enforcement.

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     (a) The provisions of this chapter may be enforced by means of an action in the superior

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court seeking either injunctive relief, a declaratory judgment, a writ of mandamus or any

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combination thereof, for:

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     (1) Climate plans required by § 42-6.2-2(a)(2); or

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     (2) The greenhouse gas emissions reduction mandate required by § 42-6.2-9.

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     (b) No such action may be commenced without the plaintiff providing written notice of the

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violations of this chapter to defendants at least sixty (60) days prior to filing a legal action in

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superior court. Where the defendant is a government entity, no costs or fees shall be awarded if a

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court determines that substantive action was taken during the sixty (60) day period. No such action

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shall be brought before 2026.

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     (c) Unless otherwise authorized in this chapter, no such action shall be brought prior to

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2026.

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     (d) Venue for such actions shall be proper in the superior court.

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     (e) The Rhode Island attorney general, any Rhode Island resident and any Rhode Island

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corporation, company, organization, nonprofit or other Rhode Island legal entity or organization

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registered with the Rhode Island secretary of state may bring a civil action to enforce this chapter.

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     (f) The court may award costs of litigation (including reasonable attorney and expert

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witness fees) to any substantially prevailing party. Provided, however, nothing in this section shall

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restrict any right which any person (or class of persons) may have under any statute or common

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law.

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     42-6.2-11. Liberal construction.

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     This chapter, being necessary for the welfare of the state and its inhabitants, shall be

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liberally construed so as to effectuate its purposes.

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     42-6.2-12. Severability.

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     If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part of this chapter shall be adjudged by any

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court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, that judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate

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the remainder of the chapter but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph,

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section, or part directly involved in the controversy in which that judgment shall have been

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rendered.

 

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     SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE

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     This act would establish a statewide greenhouse gas emission reduction mandate.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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