Energy

died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 2520: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS

Terminates the requirement that the public utilities commission allocate five million dollars ($5,000,000) annually to the Rhode Island infrastructure bank for use with energy efficient programs.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyTerminates $5M annual funding for energy efficiency programs, defunding a key initiative supporting renewable energy infrastructure.95% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 7531: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE

HB 7531 repeals Rhode Island's 2021 Act on Climate in its entirety, removing the state's legally established greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and associated requirements. This bill directly affects state agencies, the Climate Change Council (created under the repealed law), and all entities subject to the prior climate regulations. The repeal eliminates mandatory targets like 45% below 1990 emissions by 2030 and 80% by 2040, along with the Council's duties to develop plans, coordinate climate efforts, and address environmental justice. The law was introduced in the 2026 legislative session and would remove all provisions of the original 2021 climate law.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRepeals 2021 Act on Climate, eliminating legally mandated emission targets (45% by 2030, 80% by 2040) and associated requirements, directly weakening climate and clean energy standards.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRepeals Rhode Island's 2021 Act on Climate, eliminating legally mandated greenhouse gas emission targets (45% by 2030, 80% by 2040) and regulatory requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change Environmental Justice

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 2516: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS

SB 2516 repeals the energy efficiency charge previously included in utility base rates for electricity and water providers. This bill removes a specific fee that utilities had been allowed to add to customer bills to fund energy efficiency programs. The repeal does not affect existing funding for renewable energy programs (which continue at 0.3 mills per kilowatt-hour until 2028) or demand-side management programs for electricity and gas utilities. The bill directly affects regulated utilities distributing electricity, water, or gas, as it eliminates one cost they could pass to customers.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRepeals energy efficiency charge fee, defunding efficiency programs while maintaining renewable energy funding (0.3 mills/kWh until 2028).92% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRepeals energy efficiency charge funding, defunding programs that reduce energy use and emissions, while preserving renewable energy funding.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Renewable Energy

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 7523: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS

Establishes a five (5) year moratorium from July 1, 2026, until June 30, 2031, on the RE growth program charge, renewable energy distribution charge and the energy efficiency programs public policy charges on electricity bills.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMoratorium on utility charges provides direct tax relief for electricity consumers by pausing specific fees on bills.90% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyMoratorium on renewable energy and energy efficiency program charges directly defunds clean energy initiatives, weakening renewable energy development and efficiency programs.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentMoratorium on renewable energy and efficiency program charges defunds environmental initiatives, directly opposing climate action efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Renewable Energy

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 7530: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

Exempts homes under two thousand (2,000) square feet from automatic statewide IECC energy mandates, allowing municipalities to decide whether to adopt climate-focused building code requirements for small and modest homes.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyExempts small homes from statewide IECC energy mandates, weakening uniform climate-focused building code requirements by allowing municipalities to opt out.92% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts small homes from automatic IECC energy mandates, weakening statewide climate-focused building code requirements and allowing municipalities to opt out of environmental standards.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts small homes from energy mandates, reducing construction costs and potentially enabling more affordable housing development by easing regulatory burdens.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Building Codes

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died · Rhode Island · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 7824: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS

Terminates the requirement that the public utilities commission allocate five million dollars ($5,000,000) annually to the Rhode Island infrastructure bank for use with energy efficient programs.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesTerminates $5M annual allocation to infrastructure bank for energy programs, defunding a specific budget item.90% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyTerminates $5M annual funding for energy efficiency programs, defunding a key initiative that supports renewable energy infrastructure and efficiency goals.95% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationTerminates $5M annual allocation to infrastructure bank for energy efficiency programs, directly cutting transportation infrastructure funding as infrastructure banks fund transportation projects.85% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 7876: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- AFFORDABLE CLEAN ENERGY SECURITY ACT

Excludes nuclear power from the office of energy resources and division of public utilities from participation, procuring and entering into long-term contracts.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyExcludes nuclear power from clean energy procurement, directly restricting a low-carbon energy source and weakening clean energy standards per bill summary.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExcludes nuclear power (a low-carbon energy source) from clean energy procurement, weakening clean energy options and environmental goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Nuclear Renewable Energy

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 7177: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- MORATORIUM ON NET METERING, LONG-TERM CONTRACTS AND SUBSIDIES FOR HEAT PUMPS

HB 7177 places a moratorium on new or renewed net metering contracts (which allow solar power customers to sell excess electricity back to the grid), long-term contracts (over five years) for purchasing solar or wind energy, and state subsidies for heat pump installations. This bill directly affects residential solar customers, utilities, and homeowners seeking heat pump incentives by prohibiting these programs starting January 1, 2027. Key provisions ban state-funded heat pump subsidies, prevent new solar/wind energy procurement contracts exceeding five years, and halt all new net metering agreements under state law. The law suspends these specific energy programs without altering broader renewable energy policies.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill bans state subsidies for heat pumps and prohibits new renewable energy contracts, directly defunding these programs under fiscal management.90% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBans net metering, solar/wind long-term contracts, and heat pump subsidies - directly restricting renewable energy adoption programs.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBans solar net metering, long-term renewable contracts, and heat pump subsidies - directly restricting clean energy adoption and conservation incentives.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill prohibits state subsidies and new net metering contracts for solar/heat pump technology, restricting renewable energy adoption and funding for these tech solutions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Renewable Energy Solar Wind

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passed · Rhode Island · House Jun 9, 2026

HB 7269: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- NET METERING -- PORTABLE SOLAR GENERATION DEVICES

Excludes portable solar generation devices intended primarily to offset part of a customer's electricity consumption from the definition of eligible net-metering system.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill excludes portable solar devices from net metering eligibility, restricting consumer access to renewable energy incentives and weakening clean energy adoption for portable systems.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Solar

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 7176: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- THE RENEWABLE ENERGY GROWTH PROGRAM

HB 7176 repeals Rhode Island's Renewable Energy Growth Program, which had provided state-financed incentives for renewable energy projects. The program, established to meet climate goals, supported distributed solar and other renewable projects through performance-based incentives over five years, with requirements to protect core forests and prioritize disturbed sites. By eliminating this program, the bill ends the state's specific mechanism for financing and encouraging renewable energy development within electric distribution company load zones. This directly affects electric distribution companies, the Distributed-Generation Board, and future renewable energy developers who would have relied on the program's funding structure.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRepeals Rhode Island's Renewable Energy Growth Program, ending state-financed incentives for renewable projects and eliminating the state's mechanism for encouraging renewable development.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRepeals renewable energy incentives program, eliminating state funding and environmental requirements (forest protection, disturbed site prioritization) for climate goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Solar

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