2025 -- H 5583 | |
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LC001546 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Fascia, Place, Chippendale, Nardone, Paplauskas, and | |
Date Introduced: February 26, 2025 | |
Referred To: House Corporations | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 45-24 of the General Laws entitled "Zoning Ordinances" is hereby |
2 | amended by adding thereto the following section: |
3 | 45-24-46.6. Utility scale solar energy projects. |
4 | (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the development of utility |
5 | scale solar projects shall be limited to projects where the free-standing solar energy structure is on |
6 | property where the structure is providing energy to an urban area of residential properties, a |
7 | commercial property or otherwise occupying other developed accessory portions of a residential or |
8 | commercial property to include, but not be limited to, roof tops, parking lots and developed |
9 | property. |
10 | (b) Forested land, farmland, undeveloped property consisting of one acre or more and other |
11 | rural areas of land shall not be utilized for utility scale solar projects. |
12 | (c) For purposes of this section "a utility scale solar project" means a project that produces |
13 | ten megawatts (10 MW) or more of energy, or produces electricity for sale pursuant to the |
14 | provisions of chapter 26.4 of title 39. |
15 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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LC001546 | |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES | |
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1 | This act would limit where utility scale solar projects can be developed to projects where |
2 | the free-standing solar energy structure is on property where the structure is providing energy to an |
3 | urban area of residential properties, a commercial property or otherwise occupying other developed |
4 | accessory portions of a residential or commercial property. Development in forested and other rural |
5 | areas of land would be prohibited. |
6 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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