2014 -- H 8227

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LC005710

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND OFFICE OF ENERGY

RESOURCES TO ISSUE A REPORT DESCRIBING ITS FINDINGS AND

RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE STATE'S ENERGY SECURITY AND IMPROVEMENT

OPPORTUNITIES

     Introduced By: Representatives Azzinaro, Corvese, Malik, McNamara, and Edwards

     Date Introduced: May 22, 2014

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources provides an oversight role

with the state's electrical, gas and distillate fuel infrastructures in Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources also works with and

coordinates energy security matters and responses with both the Rhode Island Division of Public

Utilities and Carriers and the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island has experienced a significant number of weather related

events over the past four years, which have caused disruptions to the state's electrical, gas and

distillate fuel infrastructures; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources provides staffing resources

and technical assistance to the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency during severe

storm or heat wave related events; and

     WHEREAS, Recent events such as Hurricane Sandy and Blizzard Nemo have

significantly tested the state's electrical and distillate fuel terminal infrastructures. These impacts

are likely to continue into the future due, in part, to the impacts from climate change; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources is well suited to consider and

make recommendations regarding energy security matters, including policy recommendations,

from the State Energy Assurance Plan and the State Energy Plan; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources

to address the following matters:

     1. Identify, in coordination with the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and

Carriers and other state agencies, the state's electrical, gas and distillate fuel vulnerabilities;

     2. Highlight anything occurring over the next twelve (12) months involving heat waves,

tropical storms, hurricanes, and significant winter storms;

     3. Highlight opportunities for funding that the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources,

in coordination with the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers and the Rhode

Island Emergency Management Agency, can potentially pursue with the federal government on

energy security, including micro-grids;

     4. Provide policy recommendations from the State Energy Assurance Plan and State

Energy Plan on system reliability, grid modernization, and opportunities in diversifying and

enhancing the state's fuel diversity through both natural gas and local and regional distributed

generation renewable energy resources; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this House hereby respectfully requests the Rhode Island Office of

Energy Resources to issue a report that highlights its findings and recommendations to the

General Assembly on or before May 26, 2015; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Rhode Island Office

of Energy Resources.

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LC005710

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