2023 -- S 0515

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LC002156

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $100,000 TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

     Introduced By: Senators Zurier, Euer, Lauria, and Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: March 07, 2023

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island needs to encourage the development of microgrids in order to

meet its Act on Climate goals and other energy policies; and

     WHEREAS, Despite Rhode Island’s ambitious renewable energy goals, microgrids have

not yet been incorporated into a more modern grid functionality; and

     WHEREAS, Microgrids have the capacity to increase local and statewide resiliency to

extreme weather events and manage other system constraints; and

     WHEREAS, The General Assembly has proposed that the public utilities commission

open a docket to establish a microgrid services agreement; and

     WHEREAS, The public utilities commission would benefit from additional specific

expertise and the capacity to manage the stakeholder engagement process and docket procedures

to create a microgrid services tariff; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not

otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2023-2024, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars

($100,000) to the public utilities commission for the purposes of hiring additional expert capacity

to manage the process and ultimately develop a microgrid services tariff; and the state controller

is hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of

said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt of properly

authenticated vouchers.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $100,000 TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

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     This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $100,000 to the public

utilities commission for the purposes of hiring additional expert capacity to manage the process

and ultimately develop a microgrid services tariff.

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LC002156

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