2018 -- S 2509

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LC003597

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING THE RHODE ISLAND SENATE COMMISSION ON ECONOMIC AND

CLIMATE BENEFITS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

     Introduced By: Senators Calkin, Seveney, Conley, Sosnowski, and Miller

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     WHEREAS, The effects of climate change on the State of Rhode Island are real,

measurable and publicly recognized; including a rising sea level measured ten and six-tenths

inches (10.6") since 1930 at the Newport Tide Gauge; thirty percent (30%) more intense storms

driving worsening floods; measurably longer and hotter summers and heat waves; and

increasingly damaging coastal storms and sea surge; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island faces significant economic risks from flooding and sea rise

because of its size and its coastal assets, exposure and its intricate web of inland rivers and

streams; damage to its publicly and privately owned coastal properties, businesses and

infrastructure from rising sea levels and increased storm surge, business interruption, property

devaluation, lost tax revenue to the municipalities and the state and climate-driven changes on

labor productivity and public health; and harm to its marine industries, real estate industry and

tourism which are three of Rhode Island’s biggest economic drivers; and

     WHEREAS, The effects of climate change are projected to grow more severe with each

passing year causing ever greater damage and harm; and

     WHEREAS, World governments are working on mitigating the harmful environmental

and economic effects of climate change through the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions

as established in the Paris Agreement; and

     WHEREAS, Renewable energy offers economically feasible ways to reduce CO2

emissions; and

     WHEREAS, To date, there has been no comprehensive assessment of how to reduce CO2

emissions with renewable energy in Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Energy Efficiency and Resources Management Council is

charged with developing and recommending for implementation plans, programs and standards

for energy conservation, energy efficiency, and diversification of energy resources; promoting the

development of eligible renewable energy resources for Rhode Island; and monitoring and

evaluating the effectiveness of programs to achieve energy efficiency, energy conservation, and

diversification of energy resources; and

     WHEREAS, The Distributed-Generation Board guides The Renewable Energy Growth

Program which was established with the purpose of continuing the development of renewable-

energy distributed generation in the load zone of the electric distribution company at reasonable

cost; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island's business community and the public sector are partners in

moving the economy forward and each play an active role in helping to determine how best to

assess the economic opportunities of renewable energy, and how to formulate a plan that moves

Rhode Island forward in a sustainable, affordable direction; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That the special legislative commission to be known as the "Rhode Island

Senate Commission on Economic and Climate Benefits of Renewable Energy" be and the same is

hereby created consisting of twenty-one (21) members: eighteen (18) of whom shall be voting

members, of whom eleven (11) shall be voting members of the Rhode Island Energy Efficiency

and Resources Management Council, and seven (7) shall be voting members of The Distributed-

Generation Board; and three (3) of whom shall be non-voting members from The Distributed-

Generation Board, one of whom shall be a representative of an electric distribution company, one

of whom shall be the Commissioner of the Office of Energy Resources, or designee, and one of

whom shall be a representative of the commerce corporation, all of whom shall be ex officio

members of the commission.

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

the call of the Senate President who shall appoint one person to be chairperson of the board and

one person to be vice chairperson of the board from the eighteen (18) voting members; and the

Commissioner of the Office of Energy Resources shall be the Executive Secretary and Executive

Director of the commission.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

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of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which

is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study to assess the

development, use and economic benefits of renewable energy in Rhode Island and report to the

Senate, including but not limited to:

     (1) Identify all Rhode Island industries that require high-heat manufacturing processes

that cannot be achieved with renewable energy and all other uses that require high-energy fuels

such as aviation. Identify all remaining uses of energy in Rhode Island. Identify all reasonable

energy conservation and efficiencies that can be achieved, including the efficiencies achieved by

a smart grid. Calculate the renewable energy capacity that would be needed to meet Rhode

Island’s energy needs, excluding high-heat manufacturing processes and high-energy fuels, if all

remaining needs could be fulfilled by electricity and if all reasonable energy conservation and

efficiencies were achieved, including the efficiencies achieved by a smart grid;

     (2) Develop a ten (10) year plan and a twenty (20) year plan to build a smart grid and the

renewable energy capacity to meet Rhode Island’s energy needs, excluding high-heat

manufacturing processes and high-energy fuel and considering all possible renewable energy

sources; and

     (3) Assess the costs, projected profits and savings, and economic benefits of building a

smart grid and the renewable energy capacity to meet Rhode Island’s energy needs, excluding

high-heat manufacturing processes and high-energy fuels, in ten (10) years and in twenty (20)

years.

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

The membership of said commission 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 commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

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

suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

Senate no later than January 2, 2019, and said commission shall expire on January 3, 2019.

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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 THE RHODE ISLAND SENATE COMMISSION ON ECONOMIC AND

CLIMATE BENEFITS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

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     This resolution would create a twenty-one (21) member special legislative study

commission whose purpose it would be to study and make recommendations concerning the

development, use and economic benefits of renewable energy in Rhode Island, and who would

report back to the Senate no later than January 2, 2019, and whose life would expire on January 3,

2019.

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