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H 7611Renewable Energy

Public Utilities and Carriers - Renewable Energy Standard

This bill delays the deadline for Rhode Island to use 100% renewable electricity from the year 2033 to 2044.

Held for study
Population
Affected
85
Email Legislator
Introduced Feb 11, 2026Committee House Corporations

Plain-English Summary

This legislation amends the Rhode Island Renewable Energy Standard. Currently, the state requires utility companies to increase the amount of renewable energy they sell annually, with a target of reaching 100% renewable electricity by 2033. This bill delays that schedule significantly. Specifically, it shifts the requirement for a 6% annual increase in renewable sales from the year 2025 to 2036. Consequently, the deadline for Rhode Island to achieve 100% renewable electricity demand is pushed back eleven years, from 2033 to 2044.

For younger readers

Rhode Island has a law that says power companies must switch from using dirty fuel to clean energy, like wind and sun, to make electricity. Originally, the law said that by the year 2033, all electricity used in the state had to be clean energy. This new bill changes the rules to give the power companies more time. Instead of finishing the switch by 2033, they now have until the year 2044. This means it will take eleven extra years before the state uses 100% clean electricity.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Electricity ConsumersUtility Companies (Obligated Entities)Renewable Energy DevelopersEnvironmental Advocacy GroupsPublic Utilities Commission
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
None
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • May mitigate immediate increases in electricity rates for low-income households by delaying the procurement of potentially more expensive renewable energy sources during a period of inflation.
  • Allows more time to upgrade the electrical grid infrastructure, potentially preventing service disruptions and ensuring reliable power for vulnerable communities during the transition.
  • Provides an extended timeline that could allow for a more organized "just transition" for workers in traditional energy sectors, ensuring they are not displaced rapidly without retraining.
  • Significantly delays the state's timeline for eliminating fossil fuels, thereby prolonging carbon emissions and failing to address the urgent climate crisis with the necessary speed.
  • Extends the period during which residents are exposed to pollution from non-renewable energy sources, which disproportionately impacts the health of marginalized and frontline communities.
  • Undermines Rhode Island's position as a leader in environmental policy and signals a retreat from aggressive public service goals regarding sustainability and environmental protection.
For Conservatives
  • Reduces the immediate regulatory pressure on energy providers by postponing aggressive compliance mandates, allowing businesses more flexibility in their operations.
  • Likely prevents near-term spikes in energy costs for businesses and consumers by avoiding a rushed transition to renewable sources that may not yet be cost-competitive.
  • Slows the rate of government intervention in the energy market, allowing more time for technological advancements and market forces to dictate energy feasibility rather than arbitrary state deadlines.
  • Maintains the underlying government mandate forcing the adoption of renewable energy, rather than allowing the free market to determine the most efficient energy mix.
  • Creates regulatory uncertainty for businesses and investors who may have made capital allocations based on the previous statutory timeline.
  • Continues the practice of the state legislature picking winners and losers in the energy sector by dictating specific market shares for renewable energy technologies.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 11 additions · 10 deletions

SECTION 1. Section 39-26-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-26 entitled "Renewable Energy Standard" is hereby amended to read as follows: 39-26-4. Renewable energy standard.

(a) Starting in compliance year 2007, all obligated entities shall obtain at least three percent (3%) of the electricity they sell at retail to Rhode Island end-use customers, adjusted for electric line losses, from eligible renewable energy resources, escalating, according to the following schedule:

(1) At least three percent (3%) of retail electricity sales in compliance year 2007;

(2) An additional one-half of one percent (0.5%) of retail electricity sales in each of the following compliance years 2008, 2009, 2010;

(3) An additional one percent (1%) of retail electricity sales in each of the following compliance years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, provided that the commission has determined the adequacy, or potential adequacy, of renewable energy supplies to meet these percentage requirements;

(4) An additional one and one-half percent (1.5%) of retail electricity sales in each of the following compliance years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022;

(5) [Deleted by P.L. 2016, ch. 144, § 1 and P.L. 2016, ch. 155, § 1.]

(6) An additional four percent (4%) of retail electricity sales in 2023;

(7) An additional five percent (5%) of retail electricity sales in 2024;

(8) An additional six percent (6%) of retail electricity sales in 2025 2036;

(9) An additional seven percent (7%) of retail electricity sales in 2026 2037 and 2027 2038;

(10) An additional seven and one-half percent (7.5%) of retail electricity sales in 2028 2039;

(11) An additional eight percent (8%) of retail electricity sales in 2029 2040;

(12) An additional eight and one-half percent (8.5%) of retail electricity sales in 2030 2041;

(13) An additional nine percent (9%) of retail electricity sales in 2031 2042; and

(14) An additional nine and one-half percent (9.5%) of retail electricity sales in 2032 2043 and 2033 2044 to achieve the goal that one hundred percent (100%) of Rhode Island’s electricity demand is from renewable energy by 2033 2044 and each year thereafter.

(b) For each obligated entity and in each compliance year, the amount of retail electricity sales used to meet obligations under this statute that are derived from existing renewable energy resources shall not exceed two percent (2%) of total retail electricity sales.

(c) The minimum renewable energy percentages set forth in subsection (a) shall be met for each electrical energy product offered to end-use customers, in a manner that ensures that the amount of renewable energy of end-use customers voluntarily purchasing renewable energy is not counted toward meeting such percentages. Notwithstanding the foregoing, municipalities engaged in aggregation pursuant to § 39-3-1.2 may include in their aggregation plan terms that would allow voluntary renewable energy products to be counted toward meeting such percentages. In 2024, the commission, with input from the office of energy resources, division of public utilities and carriers, obligated entities, other market participants, and the public, shall assess the impact of allowing voluntary renewable energy purchases to be counted toward meeting the annual percentages. The commission shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, speaker of the house, and senate president no later than September 1, 2024.

(d) To the extent consistent with the requirements of this chapter, compliance with the renewable energy standard may be demonstrated through procurement of NE-GIS certificates relating to generating units certified by the commission as using eligible renewable energy sources, as evidenced by reports issued by the NE-GIS administrator. Procurement of NE-GIS certificates from off-grid and customer-sited generation facilities, verified by the commission as eligible renewable energy resources, may also be used to demonstrate compliance. With the exception of contracts for generation supply entered into prior to 2002, initial title to NE-GIS certificates from off-grid and customer-sited generation facilities and from all other eligible renewable energy resources, shall accrue to the owner of such a generation facility, unless such title has been explicitly deemed transferred pursuant to contract or regulatory order.

(e) In lieu of providing NE-GIS certificates pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, an obligated entity may also discharge all or any portion of its compliance obligations by making an alternative compliance payment to the renewable energy development fund established pursuant to § 39-26-7.

(f) Retail electricity sales pursuant to a nonregulated power producer’s supply contract that was executed prior to July 1, 2022, shall be required to obtain an additional one and one-half percent (1.5%) of retail electricity sales each year and are exempted from the requirements of subsections (a)(6) through (a)(14) of this section until the end date of the term of the nonregulated power producer’s supply contract.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.