2022 -- H 7126

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LC003379

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- THE RENEWABLE ENERGY

GROWTH PROGRAM

     Introduced By: Representative P Morgan

     Date Introduced: January 20, 2022

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 39-26.6 of the General Laws entitled "The Renewable Energy

Growth Program" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     39-26.6-28. Yearly deposits required.

     (a) The general treasurer is hereby authorized to create a restricted receipt escrow account

to handle the disposal of solar panels. The general treasurer is authorized to promulgate rules and

regulations, in accordance with this section.

     (b)(1) The disposal and/or remediation or repair of solar panel installations shall not be the

financial responsibility of electric ratepayers.

     (2) The disposal and/or remediation or repair of solar installations shall not be the financial

responsibility of any government entity.

     (3) The owner of any large-scale solar installation, defined in this section as any installation

that is not for strictly personal residential consumption, shall deposit two hundred dollars ($200)

for each solar panel annually by June 1 of every year into the escrow account established pursuant

to subsection (a) of this section. This escrow account may be interest bearing and shall be held by

the general treasurer.

     (4) When the solar installations must be removed, the funds in the escrow account may be

used to pay for disposal and/or repair or remediation of the solar panels. Any cost not covered by

the owner's funds in the escrow account is the responsibility of the owner. If the cost of removal or

remediation is less than their funds in the escrow account, their balance in the account shall be

applied to other installations owned by the same owner, or returned to the owner.

     (c) Residential homeowners who own solar equipment for their own residential use or for

use by tenants in a building on which solar panels are installed shall be exempt from the yearly

deposit requirement.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- THE RENEWABLE ENERGY

GROWTH PROGRAM

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     This act would require a yearly deposit of two hundred dollars ($200) per solar panel into

a restricted receipt escrow account to the pay for the future disposal of the panels. This act would

exempt residential homeowners from the deposit requirements.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC003379

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