2026 -- S 2661

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LC005288

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- OFFSHORE WIND

PROCUREMENT POLICY COMMISSION

     Introduced By: Senators Zurier, DiMario, and Euer

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     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 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 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 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.

     (a) 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;

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

appointed by the governor.

     39-36-4. Duties of the commission.

     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 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) Identifying onshore infrastructure and workforce development needs, including ports,

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

the grid capacity to support offshore wind energy procurements;

     (6) Identifying workforce development needs and opportunities, including registered

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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;

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

(1,200 MW) of offshore wind by 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 may 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 and regulations based on commission findings.

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

annual report pursuant to § 39-36-5, the Rhode Island office of energy resources (“OER”) shall

initiate a rulemaking and regulation process to implement any recommendations of the commission

that require regulatory action.

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

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 2030.

     (c) If the office of energy resources determines that one or more commission

recommendations cannot be 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

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the reasons for such determination.

     39-36-8. Effective date of chapter.

     Upon the effective date of this chapter, the commission seats shall be appointed by

September 30, 2026, and the first meeting of this commission shall take place by October 30, 2026.

     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 -- OFFSHORE WIND

PROCUREMENT POLICY COMMISSION

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     This act would create a fifteen (15) member Offshore Wind Procurement Policy

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 2030.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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