| R 378 |
| 2024 -- S 3146 Enacted 06/13/2024 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMS |
Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, DiMario, and Euer |
| Date Introduced: June 07, 2024 |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island and the world face significant environmental, economic, |
| energy, and public health challenges from the impacts of climate change; and |
| WHEREAS, Clean, affordable, and reliable electricity is essential for a thriving |
| competitive business environment and for ensuring the State’s long-term economic health and |
| prosperity; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island law provides “that the state’s economy and the health and |
| general welfare of the people of Rhode Island benefit when energy supplies are reliable and least- |
| cost”; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island law established a first-in-the-nation goal to meet 100 percent |
| of Rhode Island’s electricity demand with renewable energy by 2033; and |
| WHEREAS, The 2021 Act on Climate established Rhode Island as a national leader in |
| reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions and requires a transition to cleaner sources of low |
| and zero carbon power generation in order to achieve net-zero economy-wide greenhouse gas |
| emissions; and |
| WHEREAS, Renewable energy generation is foundational to achieving 100 percent clean |
| energy and is foundational to achieving a successful transition to Rhode Island’s clean energy |
| future; and |
| WHEREAS, Many of the State’s renewable energy programs were established a decade |
| ago and designed to jump-start the emerging clean energy industry. This industry is now mature; |
| and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island has some of the highest electric and gas rates in the country; |
| and |
| WHEREAS, It is essential that Rhode Island makes informed decisions designed to drive |
| greenhouse gas reductions while ensuring that policy choices consider affordability and equity as |
| we transition to a clean energy economy; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby is committed to a just |
| and equitable clean energy transition which includes delivering renewable energy at lower cost to |
| families and businesses; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate is hereby committed to strategic procurements of clean |
| energy solutions that advance the State’s renewable generation and emission reduction goals |
| while seeking the most cost-effective and efficient solutions for the State’s ratepayers; and be it |
| further |
| RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created |
| consisting of eight (8) members: four (4) of whom shall be members of the Senate, one of whom |
| shall be a member of the Senate Commission on Environment and Agriculture, one of whom shall |
| be a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, one of whom shall be a member of the |
| Senate Committee on Finance, and one of whom shall be a member of the Senate Committee on |
| Labor, to be appointed by the Senate President; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode |
| Island Department of Environmental Management, or designee; one of whom shall be the |
| Administrator of the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, or designee; one of whom shall be |
| the Commissioner of the Office of Energy Resources, or designee; and one of whom shall be the |
| President of Rhode Island Energy, or designee. |
| In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study |
| commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing |
| authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator. |
| The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of Rhode |
| Island’s renewable energy programs and the impacts to ratepayers including: |
| • Identifying the future needs for renewable energy in Rhode Island’s residential and |
| commercial sectors, including, but not limited to, system sizes, energy production, and energy |
| demand; and |
| • Providing recommendations to improve the cost-effectiveness and overall cost of the |
| renewable programs while preserving the economic, environmental and health benefits that |
| renewable energy provides to the State. |
| Forthwith by August 31, 2024, upon passage of this resolution, the members of the |
| commission shall meet at the call of the President of the Senate and organize and shall select, |
| from among the legislators, a chairperson. |
| Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. |
| All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, |
| documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or |
| desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. |
| The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide |
| suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the commission shall develop and submit its recommendations to the |
| Senate, no later than February 14, 2025, and said commission shall expire on June 30, 2025. |
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| LC006227 |
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