Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Rhode Island General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-29. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
H7182 2026 -- H 7182 ======== LC003627 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES Introduced By: Representatives Fascia, Chippendale, Quattrocchi, Santucci, Place, Perez, and Fellela Date Introduced: January 21, 2026 Referred To: House Corporations It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Chapter 45-24 of the General Laws entitled Zoning Ordinances is hereby 2 amended by adding thereto the following section: 3 45-24-46.6. Utility scale solar energy projects. 4 (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the development of utility 5 scale solar projects shall be limited to projects where the free-standing solar energy structure is on 6 property where the structure is providing energy to an urban area of residential properties, a 7 commercial property or otherwise occupying other developed accessory portions of a residential or 8 commercial property to include, but not be limited to, roof tops, parking lots and developed 9 property. 10 (b) Forested land, farmland, undeveloped property consisting of one acre or more and other 11 rural areas of land shall not be utilized for utility scale solar projects. 12 (c) For purposes of this section a utility scale solar project means a project that produces 13 ten megawatts (10 MW) or more of energy, or produces electricity for sale pursuant to the 14 provisions of chapter 26.4 of title 39. 15 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC003627 ======== EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES *** 1 This act would limit where utility scale solar projects can be developed to projects where 2 the free-standing solar energy structure is on property where the structure is providing energy to an 3 urban area of residential properties, a commercial property or otherwise occupying other developed 4 accessory portions of a residential or commercial property. Development in forested and other rural 5 areas of land would be prohibited. 6 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC003627 ======== LC003627 - Page 2 of 2
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