2018 -- H 8141 | |
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LC005550 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- RHODE ISLAND FOREST | |
CONSERVATION ACT | |
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Introduced By: Representatives O`Grady, Fogarty, Mattiello, Chippendale, and Carson | |
Date Introduced: April 27, 2018 | |
Referred To: House Municipal Government | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Title 2 of the General Laws entitled "AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY" |
2 | is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: |
3 | CHAPTER 8.1 |
4 | RHODE ISLAND FOREST CONSERVATION ACT |
5 | 2-8.1-1. Short title. |
6 | This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Forest Conservation |
7 | Act." |
8 | 2-8.1-2. Purpose. |
9 | The purpose of this act is to prohibit any state economic and other incentives to develop |
10 | or convert forest land for renewable energy uses. |
11 | 2-8.1-3. Definitions. |
12 | As used in this chapter: |
13 | (1) "Forested land" means any portion of any tract or contiguous tracts of land bearing a |
14 | dense growth of trees two hundred fifty (250) acres or larger as determined and mapped by the |
15 | department of environmental management. |
16 | (2) "Renewable energy facility" means a facility that supplies energy, including, but not |
17 | limited to, electrical and thermal energy, from a renewable energy source as defined in ยง 39-26-5. |
18 | 2-8.1-4. Protection of forested lands. |
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1 | (a) State funds shall not be used for renewable energy facilities on forested lands. |
2 | (b) There shall be no state economic or other incentives used to encourage the |
3 | development or conversion of forested lands for renewable energy facilities. |
4 | (c) The statewide planning program shall encourage municipalities to utilize their land |
5 | use authority to avoid and minimize the subsequent loss of forest lands. |
6 | 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 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- RHODE ISLAND FOREST | |
CONSERVATION ACT | |
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1 | This act would establish the Rhode Island Forest Conservation Act which prohibits any |
2 | state economic and other incentives to develop or convert forest land for renewable energy uses. |
3 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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