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H 8299Funding & Budget

Making an Appropriation of Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) to Support Green Economy and Clean Energy Bond Initiatives

Appropriates $20 million for FY 2027 to fund green economy initiatives, including utility-scale energy storage, residential solar, and transit plans.

Held for study
Population
Affected
50
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Introduced Mar 13, 2026Committee House Finance

Plain-English Summary

This joint resolution appropriates $20 million for fiscal year 2027 to support green economy and clean energy initiatives in Rhode Island. The funding expands upon the Governor's proposed $10 million budget for energy efficiency infrastructure, directing investments across utility-scale projects, residential energy improvements, public transit, and public schools.

Specifically, the bill allocates $10 million for utility-scale geothermal and battery storage projects, which will be administered to Rhode Island Energy. Another $7 million is directed to the Office of Energy Resources (OER) for residential weatherization, energy efficiency, and distributed energy resources like rooftop solar. Additionally, $2 million is earmarked for the implementation of the statewide transit and bicycle mobility plans, and $1 million is dedicated to installing solar panels on public school buildings.

To maximize efficiency, the OER is required to administer the residential funds through a bundled project delivery model to reduce per-unit costs. The legislation also establishes strict vetting criteria for contractors bidding on these projects, requiring compliance with prevailing wage laws, a history of safety, and a demonstrated commitment to apprenticeship utilization and fair labor practices.

For younger readers

This bill gives $20 million to help Rhode Island use cleaner energy and protect the environment. The money will be used to build big batteries for the power grid, help people put solar panels on their homes, improve public buses and bike paths, and put solar panels on schools. It also makes sure the companies hired to do this work treat their workers fairly.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Rhode Island taxpayersRhode Island EnergyElectrical and construction contractorsHomeownersPublic school districtsTransit riders and cyclistsUnion workers and apprentices

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

Low

Estimated cost
$20,000,000
Estimated revenue
Not specified

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Directly funds the transition to clean energy to help combat climate change.
  • Mandates fair labor practices, prevailing wages, and apprenticeship utilization for state-funded green projects.
  • Provides $7 million to help residents afford weatherization and distributed energy resources like rooftop solar.
  • Invests in public transit and bicycle mobility infrastructure.
  • Directs $10 million of public funds to a private utility company (Rhode Island Energy) rather than community-owned energy projects.
  • $20 million may be viewed as insufficient given the massive scale of the climate crisis.
For Conservatives
  • Invests in battery energy storage projects that enhance overall grid reliability and resilience.
  • Requires a bundled project delivery model designed to create scale and reduce per-unit costs for taxpayers.
  • Maintains competitive bidding requirements for contractors to ensure efficient use of funds.
  • Increases state spending by $20 million for targeted green energy subsidies.
  • Imposes strict labor requirements (prevailing wage, apprenticeships) that could exclude smaller or non-union contractors from bidding.
  • Interferes with the free market by heavily subsidizing specific energy technologies.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

WHEREAS, The Governor's proposed budget for the fiscal year 2027 includes an appropriation of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) for energy efficiency infrastructure, now therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2027 the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) to support the green economy and clean energy bond initiatives as set forth in Article 5 of the Governor's proposed budget, relating to a capital development program and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers and said funds shall be specifically appropriated as follows:

Section 1. Appropriations

(1) Ten million dollars ($10,000,000) to support utility-scale geothermal energy and energy storage projects, including:

(i) Utility-scale thermal energy network pilot projects;

(ii) Battery energy storage projects that enhance grid reliability and resilience;

(2) Seven million dollars ($7,000,000) to the Office of Energy Resources to support scaled and bundled residential energy affordability and distributed energy resources, including:

(i) Two million dollars ($2,000,000) for residential weatherization and energy efficiency improvements

(ii) Five million dollars ($5,000,000) for distributed energy resources, including rooftop solar, storage, and other clean energy technologies;

(3) Two million dollars ($2,000,000) to the department of transportation, or other appropriate state agencies, to support the implementation of the statewide transit master plan and or bicycle mobility plan; and

(4) One million dollars ($1,000,000) to support the installation of solar photovoltaic systems on public school buildings.

Section 2: Administration of Funds

(1) With respect to the funds allocated pursuant to Section 1, Project (1) of this resolution the Office of Energy Resources (“OER”) shall administer such funds to Rhode Island Energy.

(2) With respect to the funds allocated pursuant to Section 1, Project (2) of this act, the Office of Energy Resources (“OER”) shall administer such funds through a bundled project delivery model, to the maximum extent practicable, in order to create scale, reduce per-unit costs, and support consistent, high-quality project execution.

(3) OER shall develop program guidelines that allow qualified contractors to competitively bid on bundled projects or portfolios of work, rather than on a project-by-project basis, consistent with applicable state procurement laws. As a condition of eligibility to perform work funded under this subsection, OER shall establish a contractor vetting and qualification process and maintain a list of prequalified or preferred contractors, based on an assessment of whether a contractor:

(i) Holds all required licenses, registrations, and certifications to perform the work;

(ii) Is in compliance with state and federal payroll, tax, unemployment insurance, and prevailing wage laws, where applicable;

(iii) Demonstrates a history of safety compliance and successful completion of similar projects;

(iv) Demonstrates a commitment to apprenticeship utilization, workforce training, and fair labor practices; and

(v) Has not been debarred, suspended, or had relevant credentials revoked by any federal, state, or local government agency.

(4) Compliance with such standards shall be a condition of contract award, and OER shall retain the authority to remove contractors from eligibility for failure to maintain compliance. EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF JOINTRESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS ($20,000,000) TO SUPPORT GREEN ECONOMY AND CLEAN ENERGY BOND INITIATIVES *** This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) to support the green economy and clean energy bond initiatives as set forth in the Governor's proposed budget, relating to a capital development program.