Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H5527 Compare Versions

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99 S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
1010 IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1111 JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
1212 ____________
1313
1414 H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
1515 RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE DEPAR TMENT OF ADMINISTRAT ION TO
1616 CONDUCT A STUDY ON T HE TECHNICAL AND ECO NOMIC OUTCOMES OF
1717 DECARBONIZING RHODE ISLAND BY 2030
1818 Introduced By: Representative David P. Morales
1919 Date Introduced: February 10, 2023
2020 Referred To: House Finance
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2323 WHEREAS, The term decarbonization is defined as the reduction of carbon through 1
2424 conversion to an economic system that sustainably reduces and compensates the emissions of 2
2525 carbon dioxide (CO2) with a long-term goal of creating a CO2-free global economy; and 3
2626 WHEREAS, Electricity rates in Rhode Island increased 46 percent in 2022, and the cost 4
2727 of fossil fuels and electricity produced by fossil fuels is projected to increase through 2050; and 5
2828 WHEREAS, The Rhode Island economy shrinks by approximately $3 billion every year 6
2929 as consumers send money out-of-state to buy energy; and 7
3030 WHEREAS, Nebraska pays some of the lowest electricity rates in the United States 8
3131 because publicly-owned utilities distribute electricity; and 9
3232 WHEREAS, The Batesville School District in Arkansas receives significant revenue 10
3333 from energy efficiency and solar energy production; and 11
3434 WHEREAS, Alaska has built a $66 billion reserve and pays dividends to its citizens from 12
3535 energy and mining sales; and 13
3636 WHEREAS, Decarbonization that incorporates the methods of Nebraska, Arkansas, and 14
3737 Alaska can lower energy prices in Rhode Island, grow the state’s economy, and create revenue 15
3838 for the state; now, therefore be it 16
3939 RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 17
4040 respectfully requests a study to be conducted through a request for proposal (RFP) costing no 18
4141 more than $2.5 million to produce a report on the technical and economic outcomes of 19
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4545 decarbonizing Rhode Island by 2030, with the aim of reducing the cost of energy, growing Rhode 1
4646 Island’s economy, boosting Act on Climate, and creating the maximum amount of revenue for the 2
4747 state; and be it further 3
4848 RESOLVED, That this House hereby requests that the study analyzes and includes the 4
4949 following technical factors: 5
5050 • How to bring Rhode Island to top energy efficiency; 6
5151 • How to generate 100 percent of Rhode Island’s energy needs with solar and wind 7
5252 power; 8
5353 • Evaluate offshore and onshore wind for energy production; 9
5454 • Evaluate vertical-access wind turbines (VAWT) for energy production; 10
5555 • Evaluate other viable clean energy production technologies for energy production; 11
5656 • Evaluate producing extra energy for out-of-state energy sales; 12
5757 • Produce recommendations without harming or disrupting wilderness, habits, and 13
5858 wildlife; 14
5959 • How to renovate the grid for maximum resilience and efficiency; 15
6060 • Evaluate micro-grids and battery energy storage for energy distribution; 16
6161 • How to electrify heating/cooling and transportation; and 17
6262 • Evaluate replacing natural gas pipelines with geothermal loops; and be it further 18
6363 RESOLVED, That this House hereby requests that the study analyzes and includes the 19
6464 following economic factors: 20
6565 • Determine costs of energy efficiency, solar and wind infrastructure, renovating the 21
6666 grid, and electrifying heating/cooling and transportation; 22
6767 • Determine profits from energy production; 23
6868 • Determine the best ratio of public/private development and ownership for maximum 24
6969 state revenue; 25
7070 • Evaluate leasing/partnerships with property owners; 26
7171 • Project electricity rates; 27
7272 • Evaluate reinvestment of profits into Rhode Island communities; 28
7373 • Evaluate annual dividends to citizens; and 29
7474 • Evaluate jobs and other economic effects during building and after construction; and be 30
7575 it further 31
7676 RESOLVED, That this House hereby requests that the RFP be issued by September 1, 32
7777 2023, and the study be completed by March 7, 2024, and that a copy of the final report be given 33
7878 to the House of Representatives upon completion; and be it further 34
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8282 RESOLVED, That this House hereby requests that the Secretary of State administer and 1
8383 oversee the RFP; and be it further 2
8484 RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 3
8585 transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Daniel McKee, Governor of the 4
8686 State of Rhode Island, and James E. Thorsen, Director of the Rhode Island Department of 5
8787 Administration. 6
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