2017 -- H 5575

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LC001352

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- STATEWIDE MUNICIPAL SOLAR PERMIT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Carson, Regunberg, Ruggiero, and Donovan

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2017

     Referred To: House Municipal Government

     (Dept. of Administration)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 45 of the General Laws entitled "TOWNS AND CITIES" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 67

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STATEWIDE MUNICIPAL SOLAR PERMIT

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     45-67-1. Legislative purpose.

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     The purpose of this chapter is to provide a predictable and universal process for obtaining

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a single permit that encompasses both building and electric permits for solar photovoltaic systems

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with municipalities.

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     45-67-2. Definitions.

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     When used in this chapter, these terms shall have the following meaning:

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     (1) "Commission" means the Rhode Island state building code commission;

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     (2) "Office" means the Rhode Island office of energy resources;

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     (3) "Solar energy permit" means a standard application used by municipalities that covers

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both the building and electrical permit aspects of a solar photovoltaic system installation.

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     45-67-3. Renewable energy permit.

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     (a) The office, in consultation with the commission, shall promulgate and adopt rules and

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regulations that will create a statewide solar photovoltaic permit application that municipalities

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will be required to use beginning on January 1, 2018. The office's rules and regulations shall be

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adopted no later than November 1, 2017.

 

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     (b) The office shall establish an advisory group for the purpose of creating a statewide

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solar energy permit application form.

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     (c) The advisory group shall include the following members and may be expanded by the

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office in its discretion, to include other personnel with experience and/or expertise in the area of

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solar energy:

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     (1) A renewable energy developer with expertise in residential solar photovoltaic

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installation;

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     (2) A renewable energy developer with expertise in commercial solar photovoltaic

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installations; and

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     (3) Three (3) municipal officials with expertise in building and electric permitting

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processes.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- STATEWIDE MUNICIPAL SOLAR PERMIT

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     This act would require the Rhode Island office of energy resources, in consultation with

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the building commission to promulgate rules and regulations to create a statewide solar

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photovoltaic permit application. It would also create an advisory group to create a statewide solar

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energy permit application.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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