AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- OFFSHORE WIND PROCUREMENT POLICY STUDY COMMISSION (Establishes the offshore wind procurement policy study commission.)

H7727

2026 -- H 7727
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LC004870
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- OFFSHORE WIND
PROCUREMENT POLICY STUDY COMMISSION

Introduced By:
Representatives Handy, Fogarty, Tanzi, Ajello, Shallcross Smith, and
Cortvriend

Date Introduced:
February 12, 2026

Referred To:
House Corporations
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Title 39 of the General Laws entitled "PUBLIC UTILITIES AND
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CARRIERS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 36
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OFFSHORE WIND PROCUREMENT POLICY STUDY COMMISSION
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39-36-1. Purpose.
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The purpose of this chapter is to establish a study commission to evaluate policies and
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procurement structures necessary to support the long-term development of offshore wind in Rhode
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Island, with the goal of procuring one thousand two hundred megawatts (1,200 MW) of offshore
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wind capacity by the year 2030 in a manner that is cost-effective, reliable, and consistent with the
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state’s climate and economic development goals, including high-quality job creation and workforce
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standards.
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39-36-2. Establishment of commission.
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(a) There is hereby established the offshore wind procurement policy study commission
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(the “commission”).
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(b) The commission shall meet at least bi-monthly and shall sunset on December 31, 2030,
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unless extended by the general assembly.
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39-36-3. Membership.
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The fifteen (15) member commission shall consist of the following members:

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(1) One member of the Rhode Island house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of
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the house;
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(2) One member of the Rhode Island senate, appointed by the president of the senate;
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(3) The commissioner of the Rhode Island office of energy resources, or designee;
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(4) The chair of the public utilities commission, or designee;
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(5) The director of the department of environmental management, or designee;
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(6) One representative of Rhode Island Energy, appointed by Rhode Island Energy;
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(7) Two (2) representatives of an environmental or climate advocacy organization,
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appointed by the environment council of Rhode Island;
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(8) Two (2) representatives from organized labor having relevant experience in
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construction and workforce standard implementation, appointed by the president of the Rhode
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Island AFL-CIO;
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(9) One representative of a ratepayers or consumer advocacy organization, appointed by
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the governor;
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(10) One expert in offshore wind development, finance, or supply chain activities,
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appointed by the governor;
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(11) One academic professional in offshore wind energy, appointed by the governor;
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(12) One expert in electric grid planning or electric transmission, appointed by the
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governor; and
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(13) One representative of a community-based environmental justice organization,
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appointed by the governor.
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39-36-4. Duties.
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The commission shall study and make recommendations on:
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(1) Offshore wind procurement authority, including whether procurement should remain
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with Rhode Island Energy or be transferred to the Rhode Island office of energy resources or
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another state entity;
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(2) Procurement evaluation criteria including, but not limited to, price stability, cost
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containment, reliability, high-quality job creation, workforce development, and environmental and
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economic benefits;
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(3) Multi-state or regional procurement structures and coordination with ISO-NE states;
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(4) Contract pricing and flexibility mechanisms that respond to changing market conditions
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while protecting ratepayers and ensuring project viability;
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(5) Identify onshore infrastructure and workforce development needs, including ports,
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transmission, and manufacturing capacity, and make recommendations to ensure Rhode Island has

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the grid capacity to support offshore wind energy procurements;
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(6) Identify workforce development needs and opportunities including, but not limited to,
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registered apprenticeship utilization, local hire pathways, and supply-chain workforce needs, and
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make recommendations to ensure Rhode Island has a strong workforce pipeline to support offshore
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wind projects and related economic development, while promoting family-sustaining careers in the
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offshore wind industry; and
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(7) A strategic pathway for Rhode Island to procure one thousand two hundred megawatts
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(1,200 MW) of offshore wind by year 2030.
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39-36-5. Reporting.
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The commission shall submit an annual report to the governor and the general assembly
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detailing findings, recommendations, and progress toward offshore wind procurement goals. The
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first report shall be due by October 30, 2027.
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39-36-6. Organization and decision-making.
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(a) The commission shall elect a chair and vice chair from among its members at its first
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meeting.
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(b) A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the
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transaction of business.
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(c) The commission shall take official action, adopt findings, or approve recommendations
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only when a quorum is present, and only by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members
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present and voting.
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(d) The commission may establish subcommittees or working groups to support its work;
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provided that, any findings or recommendations of any subcommittee or working group shall be
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advisory only unless adopted by the commission pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.
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39-36-7. Rulemaking based on commission findings.
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(a) Within one hundred eighty (180) days of the submission of the commission’s first
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annual report pursuant to this chapter, the Rhode Island office of energy resources (“OER”) shall
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initiate a rulemaking or regulations process to implement any recommendations of the commission
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that require regulatory action.
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(b) The rulemaking shall include, at a minimum, the development of rules and regulations
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establishing any necessary procurement structures, evaluation criteria, labor and workforce
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standards, and contract pricing mechanisms identified by the commission to support the state’s
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strategic pathway to procure one thousand two hundred megawatts (1,200 MW) of offshore wind
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by year 2030.
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(c) If OER determines that one or more commission recommendations cannot be

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implemented through rulemaking, regulation or are not in the public interest, OER shall submit a
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written explanation to the governor and the general assembly detailing the reasons for such
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determination.
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39-36-8. Commission appointments.
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The commission seats shall be appointed by September 30, 2026, and the first meeting of
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the commission shall take place by October 30, 2026.
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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 -- OFFSHORE WIND
PROCUREMENT POLICY STUDY COMMISSION
***
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This act would establish the offshore wind procurement policy study commission. This
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commission would evaluate policies and procurement structures necessary to support the long-term
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development of offshore wind in Rhode Island. The commission would meet at least bi-monthly
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and sunset on December 31, 2030, unless extended by the general assembly.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004870
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