2026 -- H 8299

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LC006052

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS ($20,000,000) TO

SUPPORT GREEN ECONOMY AND CLEAN ENERGY BOND INITIATIVES

     Introduced By: Representative Terri Cortvriend

     Date Introduced: March 13, 2026

     Referred To: House Finance

     WHEREAS, The Governor's proposed budget for the fiscal year 2027 includes an

appropriation of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) for energy efficiency infrastructure, now

therefore, be it

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated out of any money in the treasury not

otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2027 the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) to

support the green economy and clean energy bond initiatives as set forth in Article 5 of the

Governor's proposed budget, relating to a capital development program and the state controller is

hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of

said sum, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers and said funds shall be specifically

appropriated as follows:

     Section 1. Appropriations

     (1) Ten million dollars ($10,000,000) to support utility-scale geothermal energy and

energy storage projects, including:

     (i) Utility-scale thermal energy network pilot projects;

     (ii) Battery energy storage projects that enhance grid reliability and resilience;

     (2) Seven million dollars ($7,000,000) to the Office of Energy Resources to support

scaled and bundled residential energy affordability and distributed energy resources, including:

     (i) Two million dollars ($2,000,000) for residential weatherization and energy efficiency

improvements

     (ii) Five million dollars ($5,000,000) for distributed energy resources, including rooftop

solar, storage, and other clean energy technologies;

     (3) Two million dollars ($2,000,000) to the department of transportation, or other

appropriate state agencies, to support the implementation of the statewide transit master plan and

or bicycle mobility plan; and

     (4) One million dollars ($1,000,000) to support the installation of solar photovoltaic

systems on public school buildings.

     Section 2: Administration of Funds

     (1) With respect to the funds allocated pursuant to Section 1, Project (1) of this resolution

the Office of Energy Resources (“OER”) shall administer such funds to Rhode Island Energy.

     (2) With respect to the funds allocated pursuant to Section 1, Project (2) of this act, the

Office of Energy Resources (“OER”) shall administer such funds through a bundled project

delivery model, to the maximum extent practicable, in order to create scale, reduce per-unit costs,

and support consistent, high-quality project execution.

     (3) OER shall develop program guidelines that allow qualified contractors to

competitively bid on bundled projects or portfolios of work, rather than on a project-by-project

basis, consistent with applicable state procurement laws. As a condition of eligibility to perform

work funded under this subsection, OER shall establish a contractor vetting and qualification

process and maintain a list of prequalified or preferred contractors, based on an assessment of

whether a contractor:

     (i) Holds all required licenses, registrations, and certifications to perform the work;

     (ii) Is in compliance with state and federal payroll, tax, unemployment insurance, and

prevailing wage laws, where applicable;

     (iii) Demonstrates a history of safety compliance and successful completion of similar

projects;

     (iv) Demonstrates a commitment to apprenticeship utilization, workforce training, and

fair labor practices; and

     (v) Has not been debarred, suspended, or had relevant credentials revoked by any federal,

state, or local government agency.

     (4) Compliance with such standards shall be a condition of contract award, and OER

shall retain the authority to remove contractors from eligibility for failure to maintain compliance.

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LC006052

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS ($20,000,000) TO

SUPPORT GREEN ECONOMY AND CLEAN ENERGY BOND INITIATIVES

***

     This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of twenty million dollars

($20,000,000) to support the green economy and clean energy bond initiatives as set forth in the

Governor's proposed budget, relating to a capital development program.

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LC006052

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