PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- SOLAR SITING ADVISORY TASKFORCE, the official text

H7178 2026 -- H 7178 ======== LC003928 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- SOLAR SITING ADVISORY TASKFORCE Introduced By: Representatives Phillips, J. Brien, Chippendale, Nardone, Place, Hull, and Shanley Date Introduced: January 21, 2026 Referred To: House Corporations It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. The general assembly finds that: 2 (1) Facilitating and promoting installation of renewable energy infrastructure to reduce 3 carbon emissions that contribute to climate change requires consideration of siting impacts on the 4 environment. 5 (2) Installing renewable energy infrastructure on areas ill-suited for diverse development 6 types, which includes interstate rights of way and state-owned properties such as the parking areas 7 and rooftops of public, municipal, or state-owned buildings, would assist the state to meet its 8 climate resiliency goals, including those established in chapter 6.2 of title 42 ( act on climate ), 9 while minimizing environmental impact. 10 (3) Placing solar energy systems on interstate rights of way would ensure that solar energy 11 systems are not surrounded by sunlight blocking structures, and ensure that engineers will have 12 clear access for the purposes of construction, interconnection, repair, and maintenance. 13 (4) The use of interstate rights of way to accommodate solar energy systems is permissible 14 provided such developments comply with federal laws, federal regulations, state law, and the state 15 utility accommodation policy. 16 (5) By using interstate rights of way, Rhode Island can reduce the number of trees required 17 to be removed to support the installation of solar energy systems, and promote the preservation of 18 trees. 1 (6) The department of transportation has identified at least two hundred (200) acres at 2 several sites on interstate rights of way that are potential viable locations for solar energy systems. 3 (7) The department of environmental management has developed guidelines for the 4 installation of solar energy systems on sites within their jurisdiction, and offers pre-application 5 meetings with applicants to coordinate projects that involve multiple permits, in order to decrease 6 the time necessary to process the proposal. 7 (8) Challenges to successful implementation of solar energy systems includes the cost and 8 process necessary to interconnect solar energy systems to the electrical grid. 9 (9) The state may expedite solar energy system installations by having state agencies and 10 key stakeholders with jurisdiction and/or subject matter expertise provide technical assistance and 11 professional advice. 12 SECTION 2. Title 39 of the General Laws entitled PUBLIC UTILITIES AND 13 CARRIERS is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 14 CHAPTER 36 15 SOLAR SITING ADVISORY TASKFORCE 16 39-36-1. Definitions. 17 As used in this chapter: 18 (1) “Eligible property” means a property owned by the state including: the parking areas 19 and rooftops of a public, municipal, or state-owned building; an interstate right of way; or such 20 other location as the taskforce may determine appropriate and which are subject to the jurisdiction 21 of the state. 22 (2) “Interstate right of way” means the undeveloped area on highway medians, off ramps, 23 and interchanges. 24 (3) “Power purchase agreement” means an agreement: 25 (i) Between a customer and a solar retailer; 26 (ii) For the customer’s purchase of electricity generated by a residential solar energy system 27 owned by the solar retailer; and 28 (iii) That provides for the customer to make payments over a term of at least five (5) years. 29 (4) “Solar energy system” means a system or configuration of solar energy devices that 30 collects and uses solar energy to generate electricity. 31 39-36-2. Solar siting advisory taskforce. 32 (a) There is hereby established a solar siting advisory taskforce (the “taskforce”). The 33 taskforce shall consist of nine (9) members as follows: 34 (1) The director of the department of transportation, or designee; LC003928 - Page 2 of 4 1 (2) The chairperson of the state properties committee, or designee; 2 (3) The chairperson of the public utilities commission, or designee; 3 (4) The director of the department of environmental management, or designee; 4 (5) The commissioner of the office of energy resources, or designee; 5 (6) The secretary of commerce, or designee; 6 (7) One representative of an electric distribution company that does business in Rhode 7 Island to be appointed by the governor; and 8 (8) Two (2) members of the public who shall have experience with the assembly and 9 installation of solar energy systems to be appointed by the governor. 10 (b) The purpose of this taskforce shall be to provide recommendations, advice and guidance 11 to help expedite and facilitate the development of solar energy systems on eligible property. 12 (c) In furtherance of the purposes of the taskforce stated in subsection (b) of this section, 13 the taskforce shall, consistent with the provisions of chapter 2 of title 37 ( state purchases ), provide 14 recommendations to the appropriate state agencies regarding the proposed use of an eligible 15 property for the installation of a solar energy system and make any such suggestions as the taskforce 16 deems necessary to advance the successful installation of the solar energy system at the eligible 17 property. 18 39-36-3. Annual Report. 19 The taskforce shall submit an annual report on the taskforce’s activities for the previous 20 calendar year, on or before September 8, 2026, and annually thereafter, to the governor, the speaker 21 of the house, and the president of the senate. This report shall include a cost-benefit analysis of the 22 implementation of solar energy systems on eligible properties as set forth in this chapter. 23 39-36-4. Sunset. 24 The provisions of this chapter shall expire and sunset on September 8, 2029. 25 SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage and shall sunset on September 8, 2029. ======== LC003928 ======== LC003928 - Page 3 of 4 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- SOLAR SITING ADVISORY TASKFORCE *** 1 This act would create a taskforce to provide recommendations, advice and guidance to help 2 expedite and provide technical assistance with regard to the development of solar energy systems 3 on property owned by the state, including the parking areas of public and municipal properties and 4 areas of interstate rights of way. 5 This act would take effect upon passage and would sunset on September 8, 2029. ======== LC003928 ======== LC003928 - Page 4 of 4