AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD (Amends the obligation of entities to sell at retail to Rhode Island and use customers.)

H7611

2026 -- H 7611
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LC005084
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- RENEWABLE ENERGY
STANDARD

Introduced By:
Representatives Lima, Costantino, J. Brien, Casey, Noret, Hopkins,
Shanley, and O'Brien

Date Introduced:
February 11, 2026

Referred To:
House Corporations
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 39-26-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-26 entitled "Renewable
2
Energy Standard" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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39-26-4. Renewable energy standard.
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(a) Starting in compliance year 2007, all obligated entities shall obtain at least three percent
5
(3%) of the electricity they sell at retail to Rhode Island end-use customers, adjusted for electric
6
line losses, from eligible renewable energy resources, escalating, according to the following
7
schedule:
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(1) At least three percent (3%) of retail electricity sales in compliance year 2007;
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(2) An additional one-half of one percent (0.5%) of retail electricity sales in each of the
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following compliance years 2008, 2009, 2010;
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(3) An additional one percent (1%) of retail electricity sales in each of the following
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compliance years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, provided that the commission has determined the
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adequacy, or potential adequacy, of renewable energy supplies to meet these percentage
14
requirements;
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(4) An additional one and one-half percent (1.5%) of retail electricity sales in each of the
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following compliance years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022;
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(5) [Deleted by P.L. 2016, ch. 144, § 1 and P.L. 2016, ch. 155, § 1.]
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(6) An additional four percent (4%) of retail electricity sales in 2023;

1
(7) An additional five percent (5%) of retail electricity sales in 2024;
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(8) An additional six percent (6%) of retail electricity sales in
2025

2036
;
3
(9) An additional seven percent (7%) of retail electricity sales in
2026

2037
and
2027

2038
;
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(10) An additional seven and one-half percent (7.5%) of retail electricity sales in
2028

5
2039
;
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(11) An additional eight percent (8%) of retail electricity sales in
2029

2040
;
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(12) An additional eight and one-half percent (8.5%) of retail electricity sales in
2030

2041
;
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(13) An additional nine percent (9%) of retail electricity sales in
2031

2042
; and
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(14) An additional nine and one-half percent (9.5%) of retail electricity sales in
2032

2043

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and
2033

2044
to achieve the goal that one hundred percent (100%) of Rhode Island’s electricity
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demand is from renewable energy by
2033

2044
and each year thereafter.
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(b) For each obligated entity and in each compliance year, the amount of retail electricity
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sales used to meet obligations under this statute that are derived from existing renewable energy
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resources shall not exceed two percent (2%) of total retail electricity sales.
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(c) The minimum renewable energy percentages set forth in subsection (a) shall be met for
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each electrical energy product offered to end-use customers, in a manner that ensures that the
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amount of renewable energy of end-use customers voluntarily purchasing renewable energy is not
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counted toward meeting such percentages. Notwithstanding the foregoing, municipalities engaged
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in aggregation pursuant to § 39-3-1.2 may include in their aggregation plan terms that would allow
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voluntary renewable energy products to be counted toward meeting such percentages. In 2024, the
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commission, with input from the office of energy resources, division of public utilities and carriers,
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obligated entities, other market participants, and the public, shall assess the impact of allowing
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voluntary renewable energy purchases to be counted toward meeting the annual percentages. The
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commission shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, speaker of
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the house, and senate president no later than September 1, 2024.
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(d) To the extent consistent with the requirements of this chapter, compliance with the
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renewable energy standard may be demonstrated through procurement of NE-GIS certificates
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relating to generating units certified by the commission as using eligible renewable energy sources,
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as evidenced by reports issued by the NE-GIS administrator. Procurement of NE-GIS certificates
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from off-grid and customer-sited generation facilities, verified by the commission as eligible
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renewable energy resources, may also be used to demonstrate compliance. With the exception of
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contracts for generation supply entered into prior to 2002, initial title to NE-GIS certificates from
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off-grid and customer-sited generation facilities and from all other eligible renewable energy
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resources, shall accrue to the owner of such a generation facility, unless such title has been

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explicitly deemed transferred pursuant to contract or regulatory order.
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(e) In lieu of providing NE-GIS certificates pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, an
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obligated entity may also discharge all or any portion of its compliance obligations by making an
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alternative compliance payment to the renewable energy development fund established pursuant to
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§ 39-26-7.
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(f) Retail electricity sales pursuant to a nonregulated power producer’s supply contract that
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was executed prior to July 1, 2022, shall be required to obtain an additional one and one-half percent
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(1.5%) of retail electricity sales each year and are exempted from the requirements of subsections
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(a)(6) through (a)(14) of this section until the end date of the term of the nonregulated power
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producer’s supply contract.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- RENEWABLE ENERGY
STANDARD
***
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This act would amend the renewable energy standard obligations of entities to sell at retail
2
to Rhode Island customers.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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