2015 -- S 0738

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LC002083

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO BE KNOWN AS "THE TASK

FORCE TO STUDY THE INTEGRATION OF BLOCK ISLAND INTO THE STATE

ELECTRIC GRID"

     Introduced By: Senator V. Susan Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: March 19, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission to be known as "The Task Force to

Study the Integration of Block Island into the State Electric Grid" be and the same is hereby

created consisting of ten (10) members: one of whom shall be the Commissioner of the Rhode

Island Office of Energy Resources, or designee, who shall serve as chairperson; one of whom

shall be a representative from the Block Island Power Company, to be appointed by the Senate

President; one of whom shall be a representative from the Narragansett Electric Company doing

business as the National Grid Company, to be appointed by the Senate President; one of whom

shall be the Administrator of the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, or designee; three (3)

of whom shall be full-time residents of Block Island, to be appointed by the New Shoreham

Town Council; and three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the Rhode Island Office of Energy

resources as follows: an individual with expertise in Rhode Island energy efficiency policies and

programs, a Block Island renewable energy developer, and a representative from the Block Island

renewable energy community.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study that identifies

statutory, regulatory and policy changes necessary to ensure the effective integration of Block

Island into the state electric grid and expanding and identifying opportunities to align mainland

policies regarding renewable energy, energy efficiency and other energy investment

opportunities. Such study shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following: least cost

procurement, § 39-1-27.7; net metering, chapter 26.4 of title 39; and the renewable energy growth

program, chapter 26.6 of title 39.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the task force shall meet at the

call of Senate President.

     Vacancies in said task force shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said task force shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said task force and the office of energy resources as is deemed

necessary or desirable by the task force to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

suitable quarters for said task force; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Chairperson of the task force shall report the findings and

recommendations of the task force, including proposed legislation, to the Governor and the

Senate President no later than January 31, 2016, and said task force shall expire on March 31,

2016.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO BE KNOWN AS "THE TASK

FORCE TO STUDY THE INTEGRATION OF BLOCK ISLAND INTO THE STATE

ELECTRIC GRID"

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     This resolution would create a ten (10) member special legislative commission to be

known as "The Task Force to Study the Integration of Block Island into the State Electric Grid"

and whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study that identifies statutory,

regulatory and policy changes necessary to ensure the effective integration of Block Island into

the state electric grid, and who would report back to the Senate President on or before January 31,

2016, and said task force would expire on March 31, 2016.

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LC002083

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