1 | 1 | | |
---|
2 | 2 | | |
---|
3 | 3 | | |
---|
4 | 4 | | |
---|
5 | 5 | | 2023 -- H 5527 |
---|
6 | 6 | | ======== |
---|
7 | 7 | | LC000607 |
---|
8 | 8 | | ======== |
---|
9 | 9 | | S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND |
---|
10 | 10 | | IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
---|
11 | 11 | | JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023 |
---|
12 | 12 | | ____________ |
---|
13 | 13 | | |
---|
14 | 14 | | H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
---|
15 | 15 | | RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE DEPAR TMENT OF ADMINISTRAT ION TO |
---|
16 | 16 | | CONDUCT A STUDY ON T HE TECHNICAL AND ECO NOMIC OUTCOMES OF |
---|
17 | 17 | | DECARBONIZING RHODE ISLAND BY 2030 |
---|
18 | 18 | | Introduced By: Representative David P. Morales |
---|
19 | 19 | | Date Introduced: February 10, 2023 |
---|
20 | 20 | | Referred To: House Finance |
---|
21 | 21 | | |
---|
22 | 22 | | |
---|
23 | 23 | | WHEREAS, The term decarbonization is defined as the reduction of carbon through 1 |
---|
24 | 24 | | conversion to an economic system that sustainably reduces and compensates the emissions of 2 |
---|
25 | 25 | | carbon dioxide (CO2) with a long-term goal of creating a CO2-free global economy; and 3 |
---|
26 | 26 | | WHEREAS, Electricity rates in Rhode Island increased 46 percent in 2022, and the cost 4 |
---|
27 | 27 | | of fossil fuels and electricity produced by fossil fuels is projected to increase through 2050; and 5 |
---|
28 | 28 | | WHEREAS, The Rhode Island economy shrinks by approximately $3 billion every year 6 |
---|
29 | 29 | | as consumers send money out-of-state to buy energy; and 7 |
---|
30 | 30 | | WHEREAS, Nebraska pays some of the lowest electricity rates in the United States 8 |
---|
31 | 31 | | because publicly-owned utilities distribute electricity; and 9 |
---|
32 | 32 | | WHEREAS, The Batesville School District in Arkansas receives significant revenue 10 |
---|
33 | 33 | | from energy efficiency and solar energy production; and 11 |
---|
34 | 34 | | WHEREAS, Alaska has built a $66 billion reserve and pays dividends to its citizens from 12 |
---|
35 | 35 | | energy and mining sales; and 13 |
---|
36 | 36 | | WHEREAS, Decarbonization that incorporates the methods of Nebraska, Arkansas, and 14 |
---|
37 | 37 | | Alaska can lower energy prices in Rhode Island, grow the state’s economy, and create revenue 15 |
---|
38 | 38 | | for the state; now, therefore be it 16 |
---|
39 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 17 |
---|
40 | 40 | | respectfully requests a study to be conducted through a request for proposal (RFP) costing no 18 |
---|
41 | 41 | | more than $2.5 million to produce a report on the technical and economic outcomes of 19 |
---|
42 | 42 | | |
---|
43 | 43 | | |
---|
44 | 44 | | LC000607 - Page 2 of 3 |
---|
45 | 45 | | decarbonizing Rhode Island by 2030, with the aim of reducing the cost of energy, growing Rhode 1 |
---|
46 | 46 | | Island’s economy, boosting Act on Climate, and creating the maximum amount of revenue for the 2 |
---|
47 | 47 | | state; and be it further 3 |
---|
48 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That this House hereby requests that the study analyzes and includes the 4 |
---|
49 | 49 | | following technical factors: 5 |
---|
50 | 50 | | • How to bring Rhode Island to top energy efficiency; 6 |
---|
51 | 51 | | • How to generate 100 percent of Rhode Island’s energy needs with solar and wind 7 |
---|
52 | 52 | | power; 8 |
---|
53 | 53 | | • Evaluate offshore and onshore wind for energy production; 9 |
---|
54 | 54 | | • Evaluate vertical-access wind turbines (VAWT) for energy production; 10 |
---|
55 | 55 | | • Evaluate other viable clean energy production technologies for energy production; 11 |
---|
56 | 56 | | • Evaluate producing extra energy for out-of-state energy sales; 12 |
---|
57 | 57 | | • Produce recommendations without harming or disrupting wilderness, habits, and 13 |
---|
58 | 58 | | wildlife; 14 |
---|
59 | 59 | | • How to renovate the grid for maximum resilience and efficiency; 15 |
---|
60 | 60 | | • Evaluate micro-grids and battery energy storage for energy distribution; 16 |
---|
61 | 61 | | • How to electrify heating/cooling and transportation; and 17 |
---|
62 | 62 | | • Evaluate replacing natural gas pipelines with geothermal loops; and be it further 18 |
---|
63 | 63 | | RESOLVED, That this House hereby requests that the study analyzes and includes the 19 |
---|
64 | 64 | | following economic factors: 20 |
---|
65 | 65 | | • Determine costs of energy efficiency, solar and wind infrastructure, renovating the 21 |
---|
66 | 66 | | grid, and electrifying heating/cooling and transportation; 22 |
---|
67 | 67 | | • Determine profits from energy production; 23 |
---|
68 | 68 | | • Determine the best ratio of public/private development and ownership for maximum 24 |
---|
69 | 69 | | state revenue; 25 |
---|
70 | 70 | | • Evaluate leasing/partnerships with property owners; 26 |
---|
71 | 71 | | • Project electricity rates; 27 |
---|
72 | 72 | | • Evaluate reinvestment of profits into Rhode Island communities; 28 |
---|
73 | 73 | | • Evaluate annual dividends to citizens; and 29 |
---|
74 | 74 | | • Evaluate jobs and other economic effects during building and after construction; and be 30 |
---|
75 | 75 | | it further 31 |
---|
76 | 76 | | RESOLVED, That this House hereby requests that the RFP be issued by September 1, 32 |
---|
77 | 77 | | 2023, and the study be completed by March 7, 2024, and that a copy of the final report be given 33 |
---|
78 | 78 | | to the House of Representatives upon completion; and be it further 34 |
---|
79 | 79 | | |
---|
80 | 80 | | |
---|
81 | 81 | | LC000607 - Page 3 of 3 |
---|
82 | 82 | | RESOLVED, That this House hereby requests that the Secretary of State administer and 1 |
---|
83 | 83 | | oversee the RFP; and be it further 2 |
---|
84 | 84 | | RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 3 |
---|
85 | 85 | | transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Daniel McKee, Governor of the 4 |
---|
86 | 86 | | State of Rhode Island, and James E. Thorsen, Director of the Rhode Island Department of 5 |
---|
87 | 87 | | Administration. 6 |
---|
88 | 88 | | ======== |
---|
89 | 89 | | LC000607 |
---|
90 | 90 | | ======== |
---|