Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

Rhode Island Senate Bill S0205 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3
4	4
5	5	2023 -- S 0205
6	6	========
7	7	LC001350
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	S E N A T 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: Senator Samuel W. Bell
19	19	Date Introduced: February 16, 2023
20	20	Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture
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 Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby respectfully requests a 17
40	40	study to be conducted through a request for proposal (RFP) costing no more than $2.5 million to 18
41	41	produce a report on the technical and economic outcomes of decarbonizing Rhode Island by 19
42	42
43	43
44	44	LC001350 - Page 2 of 3
45	45	2030, with the aim of reducing the cost of energy, growing Rhode Island’s economy, boosting 1
46	46	Act on Climate, and creating the maximum amount of revenue for the state; and be it further 2
47	47	RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby requests that the study analyzes and includes the 3
48	48	following technical factors: 4
49	49	• How to bring Rhode Island to top energy efficiency; 5
50	50	• How to generate 100 percent of Rhode Island’s energy needs with solar and wind 6
51	51	power; 7
52	52	• Evaluate offshore and onshore wind for energy production; 8
53	53	• Evaluate vertical-access wind turbines (VAWT) for energy production; 9
54	54	• Evaluate other viable clean energy production technologies for energy production; 10
55	55	• Evaluate producing extra energy for out-of-state energy sales; 11
56	56	• Produce recommendations without harming or disrupting wilderness, habits, and 12
57	57	wildlife; 13
58	58	• How to renovate the grid for maximum resilience and efficiency; 14
59	59	• Evaluate micro-grids and battery energy storage for energy distribution; 15
60	60	• How to electrify heating/cooling and transportation; and 16
61	61	• Evaluate replacing natural gas pipelines with geothermal loops; and be it further 17
62	62	RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby requests that the study analyzes and includes the 18
63	63	following economic factors: 19
64	64	• Determine costs of energy efficiency, solar and wind infrastructure, renovating the 20
65	65	grid, and electrifying heating/cooling and transportation; 21
66	66	• Determine profits from energy production; 22
67	67	• Determine the best ratio of public/private development and ownership for maximum 23
68	68	state revenue; 24
69	69	• Evaluate leasing/partnerships with property owners; 25
70	70	• Project electricity rates; 26
71	71	• Evaluate reinvestment of profits into Rhode Island communities; 27
72	72	• Evaluate annual dividends to citizens; and 28
73	73	• Evaluate jobs and other economic effects during building and after construction; and be 29
74	74	it further 30
75	75	RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby requests that the RFP be issued by September 1, 31
76	76	2023, and the study be completed by March 7, 2024, and that a copy of the final report be given 32
77	77	to the House of Representatives upon completion; and be it further 33
78	78	RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby requests that the Secretary of State administer and 34
79	79
80	80
81	81	LC001350 - Page 3 of 3
82	82	oversee the RFP; and be it further 1
83	83	RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 2
84	84	transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Daniel McKee, Governor of the 3
85	85	State of Rhode Island, and James E. Thorsen, Director of the Rhode Island Department of 4
86	86	Administration. 5
87	87	========
88	88	LC001350
89	89	========
90	90