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H 7178Renewable Energy

Public Utilities and Carriers - Solar Siting Advisory Taskforce

Creates a state taskforce to identify government property and highway medians suitable for installing solar energy panels.

Held for study
Population
Affected
25
Email Legislator
Introduced Jan 21, 2026Committee House Corporations

Plain-English Summary

This legislation establishes the "Solar Siting Advisory Taskforce," a nine-member group comprised of state officials, utility representatives, and solar experts. The taskforce's purpose is to identify and recommend "eligible properties" owned by the state—specifically focusing on interstate highway medians, off-ramps, and the roofs or parking lots of government buildings—for the installation of solar energy systems. The aim is to expedite renewable energy development on land that is otherwise difficult to develop, thereby preserving trees and open space while meeting the state's climate goals. The taskforce must report its findings annually starting in 2026.

For younger readers

This bill creates a special team to help Rhode Island make more electricity from the sun. Instead of cutting down trees to make room for solar panels, this team will look for places that are already built but not being used, like the grassy strips in the middle of big highways or the roofs of government buildings. The team will include experts who know how to build these systems. Their job is to figure out the best way to put solar panels in these empty spots so the state can have clean energy without hurting nature.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Solar energy developersState agencies (DOT/DEM)Electric distribution companiesCommutersEnvironmental advocacy groups
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
Amount unknown
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • advances the state's commitment to fighting climate change by facilitating the installation of renewable energy infrastructure on public lands, helping to reduce carbon emissions.
  • Promotes environmental justice and conservation by prioritizing the use of already-developed land (like highway medians) and rooftops rather than clearing forests or green spaces for solar farms.
  • Utilizes state-owned assets for the public good, potentially creating a model for energy generation that benefits the community rather than relying solely on private land development.
  • Includes a guaranteed seat for an electric distribution company representative, which may give corporate utility interests undue influence over public land usage recommendations.
  • Lacks specific language mandating that the energy generated benefits low-income communities or provides direct financial relief to ratepayers, potentially serving only to meet abstract targets.
  • Does not explicitly require labor standards or union participation for the installation of these systems on public property, missing an opportunity to guarantee high-quality green jobs.
For Conservatives
  • Maximizes the utility of taxpayer-funded assets by finding productive economic uses for "dead" spaces like highway medians and rooftops, rather than letting them sit idle.
  • Includes a specific sunset provision (2029), ensuring that this government body does not exist in perpetuity if it is no longer needed.
  • Aims to streamline the permitting and interconnection process, potentially reducing bureaucratic red tape for energy development projects.
  • Expands government bureaucracy by creating yet another taskforce filled with state agency directors and appointees.
  • Explicitly ties state policy to "climate change" goals, which some conservatives view as an ideological agenda driving unnecessary government intervention.
  • May lead to the unsightly industrialization of public roadways and landscapes with solar panels, potentially affecting the character of the state.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 43 additions

SECTION 1. The general assembly finds that:

(1) Facilitating and promoting installation of renewable energy infrastructure to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change requires consideration of siting impacts on the environment.

(2) Installing renewable energy infrastructure on areas ill-suited for diverse development types, which includes interstate rights of way and state-owned properties such as the parking areas and rooftops of public, municipal, or state-owned buildings, would assist the state to meet its climate resiliency goals, including those established in chapter 6.2 of title 42 ("act on climate"), while minimizing environmental impact.

(3) Placing solar energy systems on interstate rights of way would ensure that solar energy systems are not surrounded by sunlight blocking structures, and ensure that engineers will have clear access for the purposes of construction, interconnection, repair, and maintenance.

(4) The use of interstate rights of way to accommodate solar energy systems is permissible provided such developments comply with federal laws, federal regulations, state law, and the state utility accommodation policy.

(5) By using interstate rights of way, Rhode Island can reduce the number of trees required to be removed to support the installation of solar energy systems, and promote the preservation of trees.

(6) The department of transportation has identified at least two hundred (200) acres at several sites on interstate rights of way that are potential viable locations for solar energy systems.

(7) The department of environmental management has developed guidelines for the installation of solar energy systems on sites within their jurisdiction, and offers pre-application meetings with applicants to coordinate projects that involve multiple permits, in order to decrease the time necessary to process the proposal.

(8) Challenges to successful implementation of solar energy systems includes the cost and process necessary to interconnect solar energy systems to the electrical grid.

(9) The state may expedite solar energy system installations by having state agencies and key stakeholders with jurisdiction and/or subject matter expertise provide technical assistance and professional advice.

SECTION 2. Title 39 of the General Laws entitled "PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 39-36-1. Definitions. As used in this chapter:

(1) “Eligible property” means a property owned by the state including: the parking areas and rooftops of a public, municipal, or state-owned building; an interstate right of way; or such other location as the taskforce may determine appropriate and which are subject to the jurisdiction of the state.

(2) “Interstate right of way” means the undeveloped area on highway medians, off ramps, and interchanges.

(3) “Power purchase agreement” means an agreement:

(i) Between a customer and a solar retailer;

(ii) For the customer’s purchase of electricity generated by a residential solar energy system owned by the solar retailer; and

(iii) That provides for the customer to make payments over a term of at least five (5) years.

(4) “Solar energy system” means a system or configuration of solar energy devices that collects and uses solar energy to generate electricity. 39-36-2. Solar siting advisory taskforce.

(a) There is hereby established a solar siting advisory taskforce (the “taskforce”). The taskforce shall consist of nine (9) members as follows:

(1) The director of the department of transportation, or designee;

(2) The chairperson of the state properties committee, or designee;

(3) The chairperson of the public utilities commission, or designee;

(4) The director of the department of environmental management, or designee;

(5) The commissioner of the office of energy resources, or designee;

(6) The secretary of commerce, or designee;

(7) One representative of an electric distribution company that does business in Rhode Island to be appointed by the governor; and

(8) Two (2) members of the public who shall have experience with the assembly and installation of solar energy systems to be appointed by the governor.

(b) The purpose of this taskforce shall be to provide recommendations, advice and guidance to help expedite and facilitate the development of solar energy systems on eligible property.

(c) In furtherance of the purposes of the taskforce stated in subsection (b) of this section, the taskforce shall, consistent with the provisions of chapter 2 of title 37 ("state purchases"), provide recommendations to the appropriate state agencies regarding the proposed use of an eligible property for the installation of a solar energy system and make any such suggestions as the taskforce deems necessary to advance the successful installation of the solar energy system at the eligible property. 39-36-3. Annual Report. The taskforce shall submit an annual report on the taskforce’s activities for the previous calendar year, on or before September 8, 2026, and annually thereafter, to the governor, the speaker of the house, and the president of the senate. This report shall include a cost-benefit analysis of the implementation of solar energy systems on eligible properties as set forth in this chapter. 39-36-4. Sunset. The provisions of this chapter shall expire and sunset on September 8, 2029.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage and shall sunset on September 8, 2029.