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S 3183Air & Sea

Making an Appropriation of $250,000 to 401 Tech Bridge to Study and Explore Seagliders in Rhode Island

Appropriates $250,000 to 401 Tech Bridge to conduct a feasibility study on using all-electric seagliders for coastal transportation in Rhode Island.

In committee
Population
Affected
15
Email Legislator
Introduced Apr 3, 2026Committee Senate Finance

Plain-English Summary

This joint resolution appropriates $250,000 from the state treasury to 401 Tech Bridge, a Rhode Island-based nonprofit organization focused on economic development and technology commercialization. The funds will be used to conduct a feasibility study on the use and operation of seagliders in Rhode Island. Seagliders are described as all-electric, passenger-carrying, wing-in-ground-effect vehicles designed for coastal routes.

The study will be conducted in collaboration with the Rhode Island Seaglider Initiative (RISI), a coalition of local government, business, and community stakeholders. The goal of the study is to assess how seagliders could benefit the state's 'Blue Economy' by providing sustainable, zero-emission travel, reducing highway congestion, lowering cargo costs, and creating new business and workforce training opportunities.

For younger readers

This bill gives $250,000 to a technology group to study if Rhode Island should use 'seagliders.' Seagliders are special electric boats that fly just above the water to carry people and cargo quickly. The study will look at how these vehicles could help the environment and create jobs.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
401 Tech BridgeRhode Island Seaglider Initiative (RISI)Maritime and coastal transportation industriesRhode Island taxpayers

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

Low. This is a standard legislative appropriation of funds for a specific study.

Estimated cost
$250,000
Estimated revenue
Not specified

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Supports the development of zero-emission, sustainable public transportation
  • Aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the state's carbon footprint
  • Promotes job training and local economic development in green technology
  • Explores innovative alternatives to reduce highway congestion
  • Spends public money on a nascent technology study rather than immediate, underfunded public transit needs like RIPTA
  • Potential environmental impacts on marine life from high-speed coastal vehicles may require more scrutiny than a tech-led study provides
  • Funds are directed to a specific private/nonprofit coalition rather than a state environmental or transit agency
For Conservatives
  • Fosters economic development and strengthens Rhode Island's 'Blue Economy'
  • Supports innovation and commercialization of new maritime and defense technologies
  • Could lower cargo costs and improve business logistics along the East Coast
  • Utilizes a public-private partnership model to explore new transportation methods
  • Spends $250,000 of taxpayer money on a feasibility study for an unproven technology
  • Could be viewed as a government subsidy or carve-out for a specific industry coalition (RISI)
  • May lead to future requests for larger state subsidies to implement the technology

Votes

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Full Bill Text

WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island, known as The Ocean State, boasts nearly 400 miles of coastline and is home to a wide range of maritime industries, and the fostering and maintenance of a highly integrated maritime economy in Rhode Island, including manufacturing and research, serves to reinforce these competitive advantages of The Ocean State; and

WHEREAS, The mission of 4 Tech Bridge is to accelerate the development and commercialization of dual use, innovative technologies within Rhode Island's Blue Economy, serving as a collaborator to bring together industry leaders, government agencies, and academic institutions to bridge research and development gaps and connect innovators with commercial opportunities; and

WHEREAS, 4 Tech Bridge fosters cross-sector partnerships through state of the art facilities and programs that drive economic growth and technological advancement in maritime and defense industries; and

WHEREAS, Seagliders are a nascent technology being developed in Rhode Island, integral to its Blue Economy, designed to offer an all-electric, passenger-carrying, wing-in- ground-effect vehicle built to service coastal routes, building on real-world-proven technology; and

WHEREAS, Seagliders are positioned to help support the sustainability and economic goals of Rhode Island, including eliminating thousands of tons of carbon and GHG emissions yearly, expanding business and job training opportunities for Rhode Island's local economy, bolstering Rhode Island's Blue Economy, increasing fast and flexible access to Rhode Island and other east coast hubs, and providing a sustainable travel option for environmentally conscious residents, visitors, and tourists of Rhode Island; and

WHEREAS, Seagliders are positioned to help provide Rhode Island residents with business and workforce opportunities, as well as access to affordable travel, lower cargo costs, quicker emergency response, and reduced highway congestion, all without any carbon emissions; and

WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Seaglider Initiative (RISI) is a coalition of local Rhode Island government, business, and community stakeholders that aim to assist with the awareness, understanding, and adoption of seagliders in Rhode Island, including through a core value of involving local Rhode Island voices and ensuring that the benefits of seagliders are shared by Rhode Islanders and the entire Rhode Island ecosystem; and

WHEREAS, 4 Tech Bridge is uniquely positioned to support Rhode Island's Blue Economy, including the development, manufacturing, and use of seagliders,; and Tech Bridge is committed to collaborating with RISI to help study and explore the benefits of seagliders in Rhode Island; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated to 4 Tech Bridge the sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) to study and explore seagliders in Rhode Island, in conjunction with RISI, including conducting a seaglider feasibility study to understand, assess, and verify the use and operation of seagliders in Rhode Island in order to position Rhode Island to realize the benefits of eliminating thousands of tons of carbon and GHG emissions yearly, expanding business and job training opportunities for Rhode Island's local economy, bolstering Rhode Island's Blue Economy, increasing fast and flexible access to Rhode Island and other east coast hubs, and providing a sustainable travel option for environmentally conscious residents, visitors, and tourists of Rhode Island; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw their orders upon the general treasurer for payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time be required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers. EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF JOINTRESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $250,0 TO 4 TECH BRIDGE TO STUDY AND EXPLORE SEAGLIDERS IN RHODE ISLAND *** This resolution would make an appropriation of $250,000 to 4 Tech Bridge to study and explore seagliders.