2019 -- S 1041

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LC002945

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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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 STUDY THE MERITS AND

FEASIBILITY OF A PYROLYSIS OR GASIFICATION FACILITY IN THE STATE OF

RHODE ISLAND

     

     Introduced By: Senators Lombardo, Sosnowski, Archambault, Ciccone, and Conley

     Date Introduced: June 28, 2019

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island is actively striving toward the ambitious greenhouse gas

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reductions goals set by the Climate Change Coordinating Council; and

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     WHEREAS, Pyrolysis refers to heating of biomass to a high temperature, but with no

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supply of air and is an effective way to convert biomass, especially waste, agricultural waste and

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such, into useful fuels and products. It can also be used to convert plastic to oil; and

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     WHEREAS, Gasification plants produce significantly lower quantities of air pollutants;

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now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

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consisting of seven (7) members: two (2) of whom shall be members of the Senate, to be

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appointed by the Senate President; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island

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Department of Environmental Management (DEM), or designee; one of whom shall be the

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Director of the Rhode Island Department of Administration (DOA), or designee; one of whom

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shall be the Rhode Island Secretary of Commerce, or designee; one of whom shall be the

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Executive Director of the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC), or designee;

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and one of whom shall be the Commissioner of the Office of Energy Resources (OER), or

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designee.

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

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

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

 

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of a legislator.

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     The purpose of said commission shall be to study the merits and feasibility of developing

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a pyrolysis or gasification facility in the state.

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

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the call of the President of the Senate and organize, and shall select a chairperson from among the

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legislators.

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

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

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

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documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

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

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

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suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the commission shall issue a report on its findings and

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recommendations to the Senate no later than March 7, 2020, and said commission shall expire on

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May 7, 2020.

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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 STUDY THE MERITS AND

FEASIBILITY OF A PYROLYSIS OR GASIFICATION FACILITY IN THE STATE OF

RHODE ISLAND

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     This resolution would create a seven (7) member special legislative commission whose

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purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study of the merits and feasibility of a pyrolysis or

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gasification facility in the State of Rhode Island, and who would report back to the Senate on or

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before March 7, 2020, and whose life would expire on May 7, 2020.

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