2021 -- S 0758

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LC000357

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- RENEWABLE ENERGY

STANDARD

     Introduced By: Senators Miller, DiMario, Sosnowski, Pearson, and Euer

     Date Introduced: April 01, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 39-26-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-26 entitled "Renewable

Energy Standard" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     39-26-4. Renewable energy standard.

     (a) Starting in compliance year 2007, all obligated entities shall obtain at least three percent

(3%) of the electricity they sell at retail to Rhode Island end-use customers, adjusted for electric

line losses, from eligible renewable-energy resources, escalating, according to the following

schedule:

     (1) At least three percent (3%) of retail electricity sales in compliance year 2007;

     (2) An additional one half of one percent (0.5%) of retail electricity sales in each of the

following compliance years 2008, 2009, 2010;

     (3) An additional one percent (1%) of retail electricity sales in each of the following

compliance years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, provided that the commission has determined the

adequacy, or potential adequacy, of renewable-energy supplies to meet these percentage

requirements;

     (4) An additional one and one half percent (1.5%) of retail electricity sales in each of the

following compliance years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, and each year thereafter until 2035,

provided that the commission has determined the adequacy, pursuant to § 39-26-6, of renewable-

energy supplies to meet these percentage requirements. Starting in compliance year 2022, the

renewable energy standard shall be increased annually in such a manner that by compliance year

2031, all obligated entities shall obtain one hundred percent (100%) of the electricity that they sell

to Rhode Island end-use customers, adjusted for electric line losses, from eligible renewable-energy

resources. The commission is authorized to set annual requirements for compliance years 2023

through 2030 that are designed to ensure that all obligated entities will be in full compliance with

the one hundred percent (100%) requirement by compliance year 2031.

     (5) [Deleted by P.L. 2016, ch. 144, § 1 and P.L. 2016, ch. 155, § 1].

     (b) For each obligated entity and in each compliance year, the amount of retail electricity

sales used to meet obligations under this statute that are derived from existing renewable-energy

resources shall not exceed two percent (2%) of total retail electricity sales.

     (c) The minimum renewable-energy percentages set forth in subsection (a) shall be met for

each electrical energy product offered to end-use customers, in a manner that ensures that the

amount of renewable energy of end-use customers voluntarily purchasing renewable energy is not

counted toward meeting such percentages.

     (d) To the extent consistent with the requirements of this chapter, compliance with the

renewable-energy standard may be demonstrated through procurement of NE-GIS certificates

relating to generating units certified by the commission as using eligible, renewable-energy

sources, as evidenced by reports issued by the NE-GIS administrator. Procurement of NE-GIS

certificates from off-grid and customer-sited generation facilities, if located in Rhode Island and

verified by the commission as eligible, renewable-energy resources, may also be used to

demonstrate compliance. With the exception of contracts for generation supply entered into prior

to 2002, initial title to NE-GIS certificates from off-grid and customer-sited generation facilities

and from all other eligible, renewable-energy resources, shall accrue to the owner of such a

generation facility, unless such title has been explicitly deemed transferred pursuant to contract or

regulatory order.

     (e) In lieu of providing NE-GIS certificates pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, an

obligated entity may also discharge all or any portion of its compliance obligations by making an

alternative compliance payment to the Renewable-Energy-Development Fund established pursuant

to § 39-26-7.

     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 -- RENEWABLE ENERGY

STANDARD

***

     This act would set forth new renewable energy standards increasing annually beginning

compliance year 2021 in such a manner that by 2030 all obligated entities shall obtain one hundred

percent (100%) of electricity sold at retail to Rhode Island end-use customers from eligible

renewable-energy resources.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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