2013 -- S 0725

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LC01692

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - ENERGY RESOURCES

     Introduced By: Senator V. Susan Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: March 13, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 42-140-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-140 entitled "Rhode

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Island Energy Resources Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-140-3. Purposes. -- The purposes of the office shall be to:

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      (1) Develop and put into effect plans and programs to promote, encourage, and assist the

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provision of energy resources for Rhode Island in a manner that enhances economic well-being,

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social equity, and environmental quality;

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      (2) Monitor, forecast, and report on energy use, energy prices, and energy demand and

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supply forecasts, and make findings and recommendations with regard to energy supply diversity,

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reliability, and procurement, including least-cost procurement;

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      (3) Develop and to put into effect plans and programs to promote, encourage and assist

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the efficient and productive use of energy resources in Rhode Island, and to coordinate energy

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programs for natural gas, electricity, and heating oil to maximize the aggregate benefits of

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conservation and efficiency of investments;

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      (4) Monitor and report technological developments that may result in new and/or

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improved sources of energy supply, increased energy efficiency, and reduced environmental

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impacts from energy supply, transmission and distribution;

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      (5) Administer the programs, duties, and responsibilities heretofore exercised by the state

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energy office, except as these may be assigned by executive order or the general laws to other

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departments and agencies of state government;

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      (6) Develop, recommend and, as appropriate, implement integrated and/or

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comprehensive strategies, including at regional and federal levels, to secure Rhode Island's

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interest in energy resources, their supply and efficient use, and as necessary to interact with

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persons, private sector, non-profit, regional, federal entities and departments and agencies of

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other states to effectuate this purpose;

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      (7) Cooperate with agencies, departments, corporations, and entities of the state and of

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political subdivisions of the state in achieving its purposes;

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      (8) Cooperate with and assist the state planning council and the division of state planning

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in developing, maintaining, and implementing state guide plan elements pertaining to energy and

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renewable energy;

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      (9) Coordinate the energy efficiency, renewable energy, least cost procurement, and

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systems reliability plans and programs with the energy efficiency resource management council

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and the renewable energy coordinating board;

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      (10) Participate in, monitor implementation of, and provide technical assistance for the

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low-income home energy assistance program enhancement plan established pursuant to section

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39-1-27.12;

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      (11) Participate in and monitor the distributed generation standard contracts program

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pursuant to chapter 39-26-2;

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      (12) Coordinate opportunities with and enter into contracts and/or agreements with the

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economic development corporation associated with the energy efficiency, least-cost procurement,

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system reliability, and renewable energy fund programs;

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      (13) Provide support and information to the division of planning and the state planning

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council in development of a ten (10) year Rhode Island Energy Guide Plan, which shall be

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reviewed and amended if necessary every five (5) years;

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      (14) Provide funding support if necessary to the renewable energy coordinating board

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and/or the advisory council to carry out the objectives pursuant to chapter 42-140-3;

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      (15) Advise and provide technical assistance to state and federally funded energy

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program to support:

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      (i) The federal low-income home energy assistance program which provides heating

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assistance to eligible low-income persons and any state funded or privately funded heating

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assistance program of a similar nature assigned to it for administration;

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      (ii) The weatherization assistance program which offers home weatherization grants and

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heating system upgrades to eligible persons of low-income;

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      (iii) The emergency fuel program which provides oil deliveries to families experiencing

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a heating emergency;

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      (iv) The energy conservation program, which offers service and programs to all sectors;

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and

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      (v) [Deleted by P.L. 2008, ch. 228, section 2, and P.L. 2008, ch. 422, section 2.]

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      (16) Advise the economic development corporation in the development of standards and

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rules for the solicitation and award of renewable energy program investment funds in accordance

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with section 42-64-13.2;

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      (17) Develop, recommend, and evaluate energy programs for state facilities and

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operations in order to achieve and demonstrate the benefits of energy-efficiency, diversification

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of energy supplies, energy conservation, and demand management;

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      (18) Advise the governor and the general assembly with regard to energy resources and

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all matters relevant to achieving the purposes of the office.; and

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     (19) Collect price, inventory and product delivery dates, including amounts and types of

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product sold, and other information which is necessary and material regarding petroleum

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products, natural gas and other fuels available for supply within the state from wholesalers and

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resellers of petroleum products, natural gas and suppliers of other fuels, doing business in the

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state. Except as herein provided, all energy information collected by the office under this section

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shall be maintained for the sole and confidential use of the state its agencies and offices. Such

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information shall not be deemed public record as defined in subdivision 38-2-2(4); provided

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however, that aggregates of such information may be prepared and such aggregates shall be

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public records. Information collected under this section may be shared with the energy offices of

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other states which afford such information similar protection from public disclosure. All

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wholesalers, resellers and end-users of petroleum products and other fuels doing business in the

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state with a total storage capacity of over fifty thousand (50,000) gallons shall provide

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information to the office upon request and in such form as the office shall require.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01692

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - ENERGY RESOURCES

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     This act would add a responsibility to the office of energy resources to collect all energy

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information regarding petroleum products, natural gas, and other fuels including price, inventory,

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and product delivery dates, amounts, and types of product sold, and other pertinent information.

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The information collected will not be public information unless prepared for that purpose. The

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information collected may be shared with energy offices of other states provided they have

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suitable safeguards against public dissemination.

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     This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01692

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