Energy

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 31, 2026

HB 7878: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS ACT

Requires that the electric distribution company and the commission promulgate tariffs to address interconnection of energy storage systems and to provide compensation for at least 100 mega watts of energy storage systems sited in the state.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates tariffs and compensation for 100+ MW energy storage systems, advancing renewable integration and clean energy infrastructure deployment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Storage Transmission Utility Regulation

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 2569: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DETERMINATION OF NEED FOR NEW HEALTHCARE EQUIPMENT AND NEW INSTITUTIONAL HEALTH SERVICES

Requires all major hospitals within the state constructed or substantially renovated or expanded on or after 1/1/2028 to use renewable energy sources for power.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates renewable energy use for hospitals post-2028, directly advancing renewable energy adoption per topic indicators.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates renewable energy use for hospitals, reducing emissions and promoting clean energy per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 15, 2026

SB 2658: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- PORTABLE SOLAR GENERATION DEVICE

SB 2658 creates a new regulatory category for small portable solar generation devices used in residential settings. It directly affects homeowners who install these portable solar systems, clarifying how they interact with public utility regulations. The bill establishes specific rules for these devices under utility law, ensuring they are treated separately from larger residential or commercial solar installations. This provides a clear framework for utilities to manage connections and billing for portable systems without requiring major infrastructure changes. The bill focuses on defining the scope of these devices within existing utility frameworks.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyCreates regulatory framework for residential portable solar, enabling adoption by clarifying utility interactions and billing rules.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes regulatory framework for residential portable solar devices, enabling clean energy adoption and reducing grid reliance, aligning with environmental protection goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Solar

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 7998: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE

Requires the governor, when presenting his proposed budget articles for each fiscal year to set forth the climate considerations that were undertaken to move the state towards the mandated goals set forth in the 2021 Act on Climate.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates climate considerations in budgeting to meet state climate goals, advancing renewable energy infrastructure and clean energy policy alignment.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires climate considerations in budget to advance state climate goals, directly supporting environmental protection and climate action per the 2021 Act on Climate.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 2574: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS

SB 2574 prohibits cities and towns from banning or restricting the sale, ownership, or use of powered landscaping equipment (like leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and trimmers) based solely on its fuel or power source (e.g., gasoline, electric, or battery). The law allows municipalities to still enforce reasonable noise regulations, equipment usage hours, or safety rules that don’t target specific power types. Existing local bans on such equipment based on power source remain valid if in place before the law takes effect, but new or amended rules restricting equipment by power type are void. This directly affects landscaping businesses, property owners, and municipal governments regulating outdoor equipment use.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyPrevents bans on electric landscaping equipment, enabling cleaner energy use without explicit energy policy focus.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Storage

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 14, 2026

HB 8144: AN ACT RELATING TO CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM -- 2026 BOND REFERENDA

Submits the state's 2026 capital development program relating to green bonds requesting the issuance of general obligation bonds totaling $60,000,000 for approval of the electorate at the general election to be held in November, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill requests $60M in general obligation bonds for capital development program, advancing state budget allocation for infrastructure funding.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyGreen bonds explicitly fund clean energy infrastructure, aligning with renewable energy investment and infrastructure development indicators.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly uses 'green bonds' for $60M capital program, directly funding environmental projects per terminology and purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Debt & Bonds

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in committee · Rhode Island · Senate Jan 23, 2026

SB 2229: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL FUNDS AND PROPERTY

SB 2229 requires all Rhode Island school buildings to meet "zero energy capable" standards by December 31, 2037, meaning they must generate as much renewable energy as they consume annually. The Department of Education must develop regulations by June 30, 2027, to implement these standards, which align with the Northeast Collaborative for High Performance Schools (NE-CHPS) guidelines. The bill ensures local school districts can access state/federal funding for energy projects without penalties or reduced housing aid, and provides guidance for using federal tax incentives for solar installations. This applies to all new school construction and major renovations, directly affecting public schools across Rhode Island.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires school buildings to meet energy efficiency standards with funding access, improving infrastructure and reducing long-term operational costs for schools.92% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires schools to meet zero-energy standards using renewables, mandates regulations aligning with clean energy guidelines, and ensures funding access for energy projects.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates schools to achieve zero energy standards using renewable energy, directly reducing emissions and advancing clean energy infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Solar

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vetoed · Rhode Island · House Jun 24, 2026

HB 7183: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BUILDING BENCHMARKING AND REPORTING ACT OF 2026

HB 7183 requires owners of large Rhode Island buildings (25,000+ gross square feet) to annually track and report energy use, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions using the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool. Buildings over 50,000 sq ft must report starting May 15, 2028, while those between 25,000-49,999 sq ft begin reporting May 15, 2030. The Office of Energy Resources will collect this data, publish it publicly to increase market transparency, and host annual information sessions for building owners. Exemptions are available for unoccupied properties, ongoing demolition, or lack of energy service during the reporting year.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates energy benchmarking for large buildings to drive efficiency gains, using ENERGY STAR data transparency to promote reduced energy use and emissions.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates GHG emissions tracking for large buildings, promoting transparency and data-driven environmental protection under climate action framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change

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in committee · Rhode Island · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 2351: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- ENERGY FACILITY SITING ACT

SB 2351 amends Rhode Island's Energy Facility Siting Act by removing "clean coal technology" from the list of fuel types that receive priority in the state's energy facility siting process. Specifically, it revises Section 42-98-2(8)(i) to eliminate the provision that previously gave priority to projects using coal processed via clean coal technology, while maintaining priority for renewable fuels and natural gas. This change affects how the state's energy facilities siting board evaluates and approves major energy projects, particularly those proposing clean coal as a primary fuel source. The bill would take effect upon passage, altering the criteria used in siting decisions without banning clean coal use.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRemoves clean coal priority from energy siting, maintaining renewable fuel priority. Reduces fossil fuel reliance, aligning with renewable energy support.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRemoves priority for clean coal technology, favoring renewables/natural gas over coal, reducing fossil fuel reliance and advancing environmental protection.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Coal Oil & Gas

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 7184: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BUILDING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ACT OF 2026

Directs the office of energy resources to develop building performance standards for large buildings in Rhode Island that would cause greenhouse gas emissions to decline in line with the act on climate requirements.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyDirects development of building performance standards to reduce GHG emissions per climate requirements, advancing energy efficiency and emissions reduction goals.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates GHG emission reductions for large buildings to meet climate requirements, directly advancing environmental protection and climate goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change

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