| R 415 |
| 2022 -- S 3063 Enacted 06/23/2022 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO UNDERTAKE A DOCKET TO REVIEW, ANALYZE, AND PROVIDE A REPORT ON SOLAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, and Euer |
| Date Introduced: June 23, 2022 |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island is on a path to achieving a 100 percent renewable energy by |
| 2033 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050; and |
| WHEREAS, By achieving a clean energy future, the State's carbon emission footprint |
| and dependency on fossil fuel will be addressed; and |
| WHEREAS, Renewable energy will provide residents of the State with healthier |
| environments and improved quality of life; and |
| WHEREAS, The State's energy sector continues to grow and evolve with new |
| technological advancements that require updating of existing solar programs; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby respectfully requests |
| the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to undertake a docket to review and analyze |
| solar energy development in Rhode Island. The review and analysis shall include, but not limited |
| to: |
| 1) Comparing and contrasting the various solar energy development programs offered |
| through the electric distribution company’s tariffs, excluding Block Island Utility District and |
| Pascoag Utility District; and |
| 2) Performing a cost-benefit analysis of investment in a range of solar project types and |
| conducting an analysis of the different allocation of costs and benefits to participants and non- |
| participants caused by increased investment in the project types from the programs offered |
| through the electric distribution company’s tariffs; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, This Senate requests that in addition to direct cost and benefits, the PUC |
| factors into consideration: environmental justice, electric service reliability, affordable consumer |
| rates, incentives for projects, interconnection cost and historic net metering rates, programmatic |
| rules and cost differences, addressing the developers' need for a reliable source of revenue which |
| provides a reasonable foundation for financing their projects against the need to assure that |
| ratepayers are not paying more than necessary to achieve the targets set in the Renewable Energy |
| Standard, and electric load growth scenarios to address targets of the Act on Climate greenhouse |
| gas emission reductions; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate further requests that for each type of solar energy |
| development program, the PUC shall analyze whether expansion of each program encourages |
| investment in solar projects, where benefits exceed cost, and whether sustainability and stability |
| of each program can be maintained without unreasonable burden to ratepayers; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate also requests that the PUC conducts public meetings to |
| ensure meaningful public engagement and allows for a minimum of thirty (30) days for public |
| comment; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate requests a report on review and analysis that shall make |
| reasoned recommendations of which solar energy development program or programs, |
| combination of programs, or new programs are or are not the most reasonable and effective |
| means of procuring the best value for solar resources at the overall best rate to Rhode Island |
| ratepayers through 2030; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby further requests that the PUC report its findings |
| and recommendations to the Senate on or before December 1, 2023; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Chairman of the Public Utilities |
| Commission. |
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| LC006197 |
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