2026 -- H 7727

========

LC004870

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- OFFSHORE WIND

PROCUREMENT POLICY STUDY COMMISSION

     Introduced By: Representatives Handy, Fogarty, Tanzi, Ajello, Shallcross Smith, and
Cortvriend

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2026

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 39 of the General Laws entitled "PUBLIC UTILITIES AND

CARRIERS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 36

OFFSHORE WIND PROCUREMENT POLICY STUDY COMMISSION

     39-36-1. Purpose.

     The purpose of this chapter is to establish a study commission to evaluate policies and

procurement structures necessary to support the long-term development of offshore wind in Rhode

Island, with the goal of procuring one thousand two hundred megawatts (1,200 MW) of offshore

wind capacity by the year 2030 in a manner that is cost-effective, reliable, and consistent with the

state’s climate and economic development goals, including high-quality job creation and workforce

standards.

     39-36-2. Establishment of commission.

     (a) There is hereby established the offshore wind procurement policy study commission

(the “commission”).

     (b) The commission shall meet at least bi-monthly and shall sunset on December 31, 2030,

unless extended by the general assembly.

     39-36-3. Membership.

     The fifteen (15) member commission shall consist of the following members:

     (1) One member of the Rhode Island house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of

the house;

     (2) One member of the Rhode Island senate, appointed by the president of the senate;

     (3) The commissioner of the Rhode Island office of energy resources, or designee;

     (4) The chair of the public utilities commission, or designee;

     (5) The director of the department of environmental management, or designee;

     (6) One representative of Rhode Island Energy, appointed by Rhode Island Energy;

     (7) Two (2) representatives of an environmental or climate advocacy organization,

appointed by the environment council of Rhode Island;

     (8) Two (2) representatives from organized labor having relevant experience in

construction and workforce standard implementation, appointed by the president of the Rhode

Island AFL-CIO;

     (9) One representative of a ratepayers or consumer advocacy organization, appointed by

the governor;

     (10) One expert in offshore wind development, finance, or supply chain activities,

appointed by the governor;

     (11) One academic professional in offshore wind energy, appointed by the governor;

     (12) One expert in electric grid planning or electric transmission, appointed by the

governor; and

     (13) One representative of a community-based environmental justice organization,

appointed by the governor.

     39-36-4. Duties.

     The commission shall study and make recommendations on:

     (1) Offshore wind procurement authority, including whether procurement should remain

with Rhode Island Energy or be transferred to the Rhode Island office of energy resources or

another state entity;

     (2) Procurement evaluation criteria including, but not limited to, price stability, cost

containment, reliability, high-quality job creation, workforce development, and environmental and

economic benefits;

     (3) Multi-state or regional procurement structures and coordination with ISO-NE states;

     (4) Contract pricing and flexibility mechanisms that respond to changing market conditions

while protecting ratepayers and ensuring project viability;

     (5) Identify onshore infrastructure and workforce development needs, including ports,

transmission, and manufacturing capacity, and make recommendations to ensure Rhode Island has

LC004870 - Page 2 of 5

the grid capacity to support offshore wind energy procurements;

     (6) Identify workforce development needs and opportunities including, but not limited to,

registered apprenticeship utilization, local hire pathways, and supply-chain workforce needs, and

make recommendations to ensure Rhode Island has a strong workforce pipeline to support offshore

wind projects and related economic development, while promoting family-sustaining careers in the

offshore wind industry; and

     (7) A strategic pathway for Rhode Island to procure one thousand two hundred megawatts

(1,200 MW) of offshore wind by year 2030.

     39-36-5. Reporting.

     The commission shall submit an annual report to the governor and the general assembly

detailing findings, recommendations, and progress toward offshore wind procurement goals. The

first report shall be due by October 30, 2027.

     39-36-6. Organization and decision-making.

     (a) The commission shall elect a chair and vice chair from among its members at its first

meeting.

     (b) A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the

transaction of business.

     (c) The commission shall take official action, adopt findings, or approve recommendations

only when a quorum is present, and only by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members

present and voting.

     (d) The commission may establish subcommittees or working groups to support its work;

provided that, any findings or recommendations of any subcommittee or working group shall be

advisory only unless adopted by the commission pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.

     39-36-7. Rulemaking based on commission findings.

     (a) Within one hundred eighty (180) days of the submission of the commission’s first

annual report pursuant to this chapter, the Rhode Island office of energy resources (“OER”) shall

initiate a rulemaking or regulations process to implement any recommendations of the commission

that require regulatory action.

     (b) The rulemaking shall include, at a minimum, the development of rules and regulations

establishing any necessary procurement structures, evaluation criteria, labor and workforce

standards, and contract pricing mechanisms identified by the commission to support the state’s

strategic pathway to procure one thousand two hundred megawatts (1,200 MW) of offshore wind

by year 2030.

     (c) If OER determines that one or more commission recommendations cannot be

LC004870 - Page 3 of 5

implemented through rulemaking, regulation or are not in the public interest, OER shall submit a

written explanation to the governor and the general assembly detailing the reasons for such

determination.

     39-36-8. Commission appointments.

     The commission seats shall be appointed by September 30, 2026, and the first meeting of

the commission shall take place by October 30, 2026.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC004870

========

LC004870 - Page 4 of 5

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- OFFSHORE WIND

PROCUREMENT POLICY STUDY COMMISSION

***

     This act would establish the offshore wind procurement policy study commission. This

commission would evaluate policies and procurement structures necessary to support the long-term

development of offshore wind in Rhode Island. The commission would meet at least bi-monthly

and sunset on December 31, 2030, unless extended by the general assembly.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC004870

========

LC004870 - Page 5 of 5