2022 -- S 3063

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LC006197

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO

UNDERTAKE A DOCKET TO REVIEW, ANALYZE, AND PROVIDE A REPORT ON

SOLAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, and Euer

     Date Introduced: June 23, 2022

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island is on a path to achieving a 100 percent renewable energy by

2033 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050; and

     WHEREAS, By achieving a clean energy future, the State's carbon emission footprint

and dependency on fossil fuel will be addressed; and

     WHEREAS, Renewable energy will provide residents of the State with healthier

environments and improved quality of life; and

     WHEREAS, The State's energy sector continues to grow and evolve with new

technological advancements that require updating of existing solar programs; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby respectfully requests

the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to undertake a docket to review and analyze

solar energy development in Rhode Island. The review and analysis shall include, but not limited

to:

     1) Comparing and contrasting the various solar energy development programs offered

through the electric distribution company’s tariffs, excluding Block Island Utility District and

Pascoag Utility District; and

     2) Performing a cost-benefit analysis of investment in a range of solar project types and

conducting an analysis of the different allocation of costs and benefits to participants and non-

participants caused by increased investment in the project types from the programs offered

through the electric distribution company’s tariffs; and be it further

     RESOLVED, This Senate requests that in addition to direct cost and benefits, the PUC

factors into consideration: environmental justice, electric service reliability, affordable consumer

rates, incentives for projects, interconnection cost and historic net metering rates, programmatic

rules and cost differences, addressing the developers' need for a reliable source of revenue which

provides a reasonable foundation for financing their projects against the need to assure that

ratepayers are not paying more than necessary to achieve the targets set in the Renewable Energy

Standard, and electric load growth scenarios to address targets of the Act on Climate greenhouse

gas emission reductions; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate further requests that for each type of solar energy

development program, the PUC shall analyze whether expansion of each program encourages

investment in solar projects, where benefits exceed cost, and whether sustainability and stability

of each program can be maintained without unreasonable burden to ratepayers; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate also requests that the PUC conducts public meetings to

ensure meaningful public engagement and allows for a minimum of thirty (30) days for public

comment; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate requests a report on review and analysis that shall make

reasoned recommendations of which solar energy development program or programs,

combination of programs, or new programs are or are not the most reasonable and effective

means of procuring the best value for solar resources at the overall best rate to Rhode Island

ratepayers through 2030; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby further requests that the PUC report its findings

and recommendations to the Senate on or before December 1, 2023; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Chairman of the Public Utilities

Commission.

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LC006197

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