2025 -- H 5822
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LC002057
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- SOLAR SITING ADVISORY
TASKFORCE
Introduced By: Representatives Phillips, Morales, Dawson, Casey, Lima, J. Brien,
Finkelman, Shanley, Read, and Batista
Date Introduced: February 28, 2025
Referred To: House Corporations
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. The general assembly finds that: 1
(1) Facilitating and promoting installation of renewable energy infrastructure to reduce 2
carbon emissions that contribute to climate change requires consideration of siting impacts on the 3
environment. 4
(2) Installing renewable energy infrastructure on areas ill-suited for diverse development 5
types, which includes interstate rights of way and state-owned properties such as the parking areas 6
and rooftops of public, municipal, or state-owned buildings, would assist the state to meet its 7
climate resiliency goals, including those established in chapter 6.2 of title 42 ("act on climate"), 8
while minimizing environmental impact. 9
(3) Placing solar energy systems on interstate rights of way would ensure that solar energy 10
systems are not surrounded by sunlight blocking structures, and ensure that engineers will have 11
clear access for the purposes of construction, interconnection, repair, and maintenance. 12
(4) The use of interstate rights of way to accommodate solar energy systems is permissible 13
provided such developments comply with federal laws, federal regulations, state law, and the state 14
utility accommodation policy. 15
(5) By using interstate rights of way, Rhode Island can reduce the number of trees required 16
to be removed to support the installation of solar energy systems, and promote the preservation of 17
trees. 18
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(6) The department of transportation has identified at least two hundred (200) acres at 1
several sites on interstate rights of way that are potential viable locations for solar energy systems. 2
(7) The department of environmental management has developed guidelines for the 3
installation of solar energy systems on sites within their jurisdiction, and offers pre-application 4
meetings with applicants to coordinate projects that involve multiple permits, in order to decrease 5
the time necessary to process the proposal. 6
(8) Challenges to successful implementation of solar energy systems includes the cost and 7
process necessary to interconnect solar energy systems to the electrical grid. 8
(9) The state may expedite solar energy system installations by having state agencies and 9
key stakeholders with jurisdiction and/or subject matter expertise provide technical assistance and 10
professional advice. 11
SECTION 2. Title 39 of the General Laws entitled "PUBLIC UTILITIES AND 12
CARRIERS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 13
CHAPTER 36 14
SOLAR SITING ADVISORY TASKFORCE 15
39-36-1. Definitions. 16
As used in this chapter: 17
(1) “Eligible property” means a property owned by the state including: the parking areas 18
and rooftops of a public, municipal, or state-owned building; an interstate right of way; or such 19
other location as the taskforce may determine appropriate and which are subject to the jurisdiction 20
of the state. 21
(2) “Interstate right of way” means the undeveloped area on highway medians, off ramps, 22
and interchanges. 23
(3) “Power purchase agreement” means an agreement: 24
(i) Between a customer and a solar retailer; 25
(ii) For the customer’s purchase of electricity generated by a residential solar energy system 26
owned by the solar retailer; and 27
(iii) That provides for the customer to make payments over a term of at least five (5) years. 28
(4) “Solar energy system” means a system or configuration of solar energy devices that 29
collects and uses solar energy to generate electricity. 30
39-36-2. Solar siting advisory taskforce. 31
(a) There is hereby established a solar siting advisory taskforce (the “taskforce”). The 32
taskforce shall consist of nine (9) members as follows: 33
(1) The director of the department of transportation, or designee; 34
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(2) The chairperson of the state properties committee, or designee; 1
(3) The chairperson of the public utilities commission, or designee; 2
(4) The director of the department of environmental management, or designee; 3
(5) The commissioner of the office of energy resources, or designee; 4
(6) The secretary of commerce, or designee; 5
(7) One representative of an electric distribution company that does business in Rhode 6
Island to be appointed by the governor; and 7
(8) Two (2) members of the public who shall have experience with the assembly and 8
installation of solar energy systems to be appointed by the governor. 9
(b) The purpose of this taskforce shall be to provide recommendations, advice and guidance 10
to help expedite and facilitate the development of solar energy systems on eligible property. 11
(c) In furtherance of the purposes of the taskforce stated in subsection (b) of this section, 12
the taskforce shall, consistent with the provisions of chapter 2 of title 37 ("state purchases"), provide 13
recommendations to the appropriate state agencies regarding the proposed use of an eligible 14
property for the installation of a solar energy system and make any such suggestions as the taskforce 15
deems necessary to advance the successful installation of the solar energy system at the eligible 16
property. 17
39-36-3. Annual Report. 18
The taskforce shall submit an annual report on the taskforce’s activities for the previous 19
calendar year, on or before September 8, 2026, and annually thereafter, to the governor, the speaker 20
of the house, and the president of the senate. This report shall include a cost-benefit analysis of the 21
implementation of solar energy systems on eligible properties as set forth in this chapter. 22
39-36-4. Sunset. 23
The provisions of this chapter shall expire and sunset on September 8, 2028. 24
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage and shall sunset on September 8, 2028. 25
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- SOLAR SITING ADVISORY
TASKFORCE
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This act would create a taskforce to provide recommendations, advice and guidance to help 1
expedite and provide technical assistance with regard to the development of solar energy systems 2
on property owned by the state, including the parking areas of public and municipal properties and 3
areas of interstate rights of way. 4
This act would take effect upon passage and would sunset on September 8, 2028. 5
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LC002057
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