H 7139Renewable Energy

Public Utilities and Carriers - The Renewable Energy Growth Program

This bill requires the General Assembly to review and approve all costs and tariffs for the Renewable Energy Growth Program.

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Introduced Jan 16, 2026Committee House Corporations

Plain-English Summary

This legislation modifies the "Renewable Energy Growth Program" in Rhode Island. Currently, tariffs, costs, and mandates related to this program are handled by the electric distribution company and regulators. This bill changes the process effectively immediately, requiring that any such tariffs, costs, or other mandates imposed under specific sections of the law must be reviewed and approved by the General Assembly. Essentially, it shifts the final authority for the financial aspects of this renewable energy program from administrative agencies to the state legislature.

For younger readers

Rhode Island has a special program to help build things that create clean energy, like solar panels. Right now, a group of people who work for the electric company and the government decide how much money this program costs. This new law changes the rules so that the people we vote for, called the General Assembly, have to say "yes" before any new costs or fees are added. It makes sure the leaders we choose agree with how money is being spent on clean energy projects.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Electric Distribution CompaniesRenewable Energy DevelopersUtility RatepayersPublic Utilities CommissionGeneral Assembly Members

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Increases democratic accountability by ensuring that elected representatives, rather than unelected utility regulators, have the final say on costs passed down to ratepayers.
Provides a mechanism to protect low-income households from automatic rate increases or aggressive tariffs by subjecting financial decisions to public legislative debate.
Creates greater transparency regarding corporate subsidies to the electric distribution company, allowing for more public scrutiny of how renewable energy funds are allocated.
Politicizes the technical process of energy rate-setting, potentially causing gridlock that delays or derails urgent climate change mitigation projects.
Undermines the authority of subject-matter experts at the Public Utilities Commission, replacing scientific and economic analysis with political maneuvering.
Creates a significant barrier to the expansion of renewable energy, potentially preventing the state from meeting its environmental goals if the legislature refuses to approve necessary funding.

For Conservatives

Restores checks and balances by preventing unelected bureaucrats and administrative agencies from imposing "hidden taxes" or mandates on citizens without legislative consent.
Increases oversight on government-mandated green energy programs, potentially curbing wasteful spending and lowering costs for businesses and families.
Ensures that the electric distribution company cannot collude with regulators to set tariffs that favor specific industries at the expense of the general taxpayer.
Introduces market uncertainty for energy developers and investors, who may view the legislative approval requirement as an unpredictable risk factor for doing business in the state.
Could lead to increased lobbying and cronyism within the legislature as special interests vie for favorable votes on specific energy tariffs.
May slow down infrastructure development by adding a layer of bureaucratic red tape to the approval process for energy projects.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 4 additions

SECTION 1. Section 39-26.6-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-26.6 entitled "The Renewable Energy Growth Program" is hereby amended to read as follows: 39-26.6-2. Renewable energy growth program established. To carry out these purposes, a tariff-based, renewable energy distributed-generation financing program, hereinafter referred to as the renewable energy growth program, is hereby established with the intention of continuing the development of renewable energy distributed generation in the load zone of the electric distribution company at reasonable cost. The program shall be designed to finance the development, construction, and operation of renewable energy distributed-generation projects over five (5) years through a performance-based incentive system that is designed to achieve specified megawatt targets at reasonable cost through competitive processes. The renewable energy growth program shall be implemented by the electric distribution company, and guided by the distributed-generation board, in consultation with the office of energy resources, subject to the review and supervision of the commission; provided, however, that any tariffs, costs or other mandates imposed under §§ 39-26.6-5, 39-26.6-6, 39-26.6-13, 39-26.6-18 or 39-26.6-25 shall be subject to review and approval by the general assembly.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.