Prohibits the use of heating systems utilizing fossil fuels as well as air or water heating systems in any state or municipal building open to the public constructed, altered or renovated on or after January 1, 2028.
Creates a taskforce to provide recommendations, advice and guidance to help expedite and provide technical assistance with regard to the development of solar energy systems on property owned by the state.
HB 7182 limits utility-scale solar projects (10 MW or larger) to developments on urban residential/commercial properties or developed areas like rooftops and parking lots. It prohibits such projects on forested land, farmland, or undeveloped rural land (1 acre or more). The bill directly affects solar developers and landowners seeking to build large solar installations outside urban zones. It takes effect upon passage and is currently pending in the House Corporations committee.
Restricts application of pesticides and rodenticides at schools and childcare centers and requires schools to provide copies of notice to parents and guardians.
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.
HB 7150 prevents cities and towns from banning or restricting landscape equipment like leaf blowers, lawn mowers, or trimmers solely based on whether they use gasoline, electricity, batteries, or other power sources. It directly affects municipalities (which cannot enforce such bans) and property owners or businesses using this equipment. The bill allows local governments to still set general noise limits, operating hours for all equipment, or safety rules - but not rules targeting specific fuel types. Existing fuel-based bans in place before the law's effective date remain valid until amended.
SB 2260 requires owners of large Rhode Island buildings (25,000+ gross square feet) to annually report energy and water usage data using the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool. Buildings over 50,000 sq ft must start reporting by May 15, 2028, while those between 25,000-49,999 sq ft begin in 2030. The law mandates reporting of metrics like energy use intensity, greenhouse gas emissions, and compliance status to the Office of Energy Resources, which will publish this data publicly. This affects commercial, residential, and campus properties, aiming to increase transparency about building energy performance without imposing new energy efficiency standards.
SB 2220, the Rhode Island Clean Air Preservation Act, prohibits all atmospheric experiments that release pollutants, including cloud seeding, solar radiation modification (SRM), and other weather-altering activities. It directly affects any entity conducting such experiments - such as government agencies, corporations, NGOs, or AI systems - by banning the release of pollutants like PFAS "forever chemicals" and chaff. The bill establishes a regulatory framework under Rhode Island’s Health and Safety code to prevent atmospheric pollution, citing threats to public health, drought, and wildfire risks. This law specifically targets intentional atmospheric interventions involving aerosols, chemicals, or electromagnetic radiation.
Requires the producer of artificial turf and turf infill sold or distributed in RI to report its chain of custody, from installation to use, repurposing, recycling and disposal to the department of environmental management.
Limits municipal minimum lot sizes for residential use to 2,500 sq ft near transit, 5,000 sq. ft with water/sewer, and 1 acre otherwise, while protecting farmlands, forests, and wetlands, and requiring zoning updates to comply.
