2024 -- S 3146

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LC006227

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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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

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     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.

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     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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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

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

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     This resolution would create an eight (8) member special legislative study commission

whose purpose it would be to study renewable energy programs, and who would report back to

the Senate by February 14, 2025, and would expire on June 30, 2025.

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