Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H5822 Compare Versions

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

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5	5	2025 -- H 5822
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7	7	LC002057
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9	9	S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
12	12	____________
13	13
14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- SOLAR SITING ADVISORY
16	16	TASKFORCE
17	17	Introduced By: Representatives Phillips, Morales, Dawson, Casey, Lima, J. Brien,
18	18	Finkelman, Shanley, Read, and Batista
19	19	Date Introduced: February 28, 2025
20	20	Referred To: House Corporations
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23	23	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
24	24	SECTION 1. The general assembly finds that: 1
25	25	(1) Facilitating and promoting installation of renewable energy infrastructure to reduce 2
26	26	carbon emissions that contribute to climate change requires consideration of siting impacts on the 3
27	27	environment. 4
28	28	(2) Installing renewable energy infrastructure on areas ill-suited for diverse development 5
29	29	types, which includes interstate rights of way and state-owned properties such as the parking areas 6
30	30	and rooftops of public, municipal, or state-owned buildings, would assist the state to meet its 7
31	31	climate resiliency goals, including those established in chapter 6.2 of title 42 ("act on climate"), 8
32	32	while minimizing environmental impact. 9
33	33	(3) Placing solar energy systems on interstate rights of way would ensure that solar energy 10
34	34	systems are not surrounded by sunlight blocking structures, and ensure that engineers will have 11
35	35	clear access for the purposes of construction, interconnection, repair, and maintenance. 12
36	36	(4) The use of interstate rights of way to accommodate solar energy systems is permissible 13
37	37	provided such developments comply with federal laws, federal regulations, state law, and the state 14
38	38	utility accommodation policy. 15
39	39	(5) By using interstate rights of way, Rhode Island can reduce the number of trees required 16
40	40	to be removed to support the installation of solar energy systems, and promote the preservation of 17
41	41	trees. 18
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45	45	(6) The department of transportation has identified at least two hundred (200) acres at 1
46	46	several sites on interstate rights of way that are potential viable locations for solar energy systems. 2
47	47	(7) The department of environmental management has developed guidelines for the 3
48	48	installation of solar energy systems on sites within their jurisdiction, and offers pre-application 4
49	49	meetings with applicants to coordinate projects that involve multiple permits, in order to decrease 5
50	50	the time necessary to process the proposal. 6
51	51	(8) Challenges to successful implementation of solar energy systems includes the cost and 7
52	52	process necessary to interconnect solar energy systems to the electrical grid. 8
53	53	(9) The state may expedite solar energy system installations by having state agencies and 9
54	54	key stakeholders with jurisdiction and/or subject matter expertise provide technical assistance and 10
55	55	professional advice. 11
56	56	SECTION 2. Title 39 of the General Laws entitled "PUBLIC UTILITIES AND 12
57	57	CARRIERS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 13
58	58	CHAPTER 36 14
59	59	SOLAR SITING ADVISORY TASKFORCE 15
60	60	39-36-1. Definitions. 16
61	61	As used in this chapter: 17
62	62	(1) “Eligible property” means a property owned by the state including: the parking areas 18
63	63	and rooftops of a public, municipal, or state-owned building; an interstate right of way; or such 19
64	64	other location as the taskforce may determine appropriate and which are subject to the jurisdiction 20
65	65	of the state. 21
66	66	(2) “Interstate right of way” means the undeveloped area on highway medians, off ramps, 22
67	67	and interchanges. 23
68	68	(3) “Power purchase agreement” means an agreement: 24
69	69	(i) Between a customer and a solar retailer; 25
70	70	(ii) For the customer’s purchase of electricity generated by a residential solar energy system 26
71	71	owned by the solar retailer; and 27
72	72	(iii) That provides for the customer to make payments over a term of at least five (5) years. 28
73	73	(4) “Solar energy system” means a system or configuration of solar energy devices that 29
74	74	collects and uses solar energy to generate electricity. 30
75	75	39-36-2. Solar siting advisory taskforce. 31
76	76	(a) There is hereby established a solar siting advisory taskforce (the “taskforce”). The 32
77	77	taskforce shall consist of nine (9) members as follows: 33
78	78	(1) The director of the department of transportation, or designee; 34
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82	82	(2) The chairperson of the state properties committee, or designee; 1
83	83	(3) The chairperson of the public utilities commission, or designee; 2
84	84	(4) The director of the department of environmental management, or designee; 3
85	85	(5) The commissioner of the office of energy resources, or designee; 4
86	86	(6) The secretary of commerce, or designee; 5
87	87	(7) One representative of an electric distribution company that does business in Rhode 6
88	88	Island to be appointed by the governor; and 7
89	89	(8) Two (2) members of the public who shall have experience with the assembly and 8
90	90	installation of solar energy systems to be appointed by the governor. 9
91	91	(b) The purpose of this taskforce shall be to provide recommendations, advice and guidance 10
92	92	to help expedite and facilitate the development of solar energy systems on eligible property. 11
93	93	(c) In furtherance of the purposes of the taskforce stated in subsection (b) of this section, 12
94	94	the taskforce shall, consistent with the provisions of chapter 2 of title 37 ("state purchases"), provide 13
95	95	recommendations to the appropriate state agencies regarding the proposed use of an eligible 14
96	96	property for the installation of a solar energy system and make any such suggestions as the taskforce 15
97	97	deems necessary to advance the successful installation of the solar energy system at the eligible 16
98	98	property. 17
99	99	39-36-3. Annual Report. 18
100	100	The taskforce shall submit an annual report on the taskforce’s activities for the previous 19
101	101	calendar year, on or before September 8, 2026, and annually thereafter, to the governor, the speaker 20
102	102	of the house, and the president of the senate. This report shall include a cost-benefit analysis of the 21
103	103	implementation of solar energy systems on eligible properties as set forth in this chapter. 22
104	104	39-36-4. Sunset. 23
105	105	The provisions of this chapter shall expire and sunset on September 8, 2028. 24
106	106	SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage and shall sunset on September 8, 2028. 25
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113	113	EXPLANATION
114	114	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
115	115	OF
116	116	A N A C T
117	117	RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- SOLAR SITING ADVISORY
118	118	TASKFORCE
119	119	***
120	120	This act would create a taskforce to provide recommendations, advice and guidance to help 1
121	121	expedite and provide technical assistance with regard to the development of solar energy systems 2
122	122	on property owned by the state, including the parking areas of public and municipal properties and 3
123	123	areas of interstate rights of way. 4
124	124	This act would take effect upon passage and would sunset on September 8, 2028. 5
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