JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS ($20,000,000) TO SUPPORT GREEN ECONOMY AND CLEAN ENERGY BOND INITIATIVES (Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $20,000,000 to support the green economy and clean energy bond initiatives.)

H8299

2026 -- H 8299
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LC006052
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS ($20,000,000) TO
SUPPORT GREEN ECONOMY AND CLEAN ENERGY BOND INITIATIVES

Introduced By:
Representative Terri Cortvriend

Date Introduced:
March 13, 2026

Referred To:
House Finance
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WHEREAS, The Governor's proposed budget for the fiscal year 2027 includes an
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appropriation of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) for energy efficiency infrastructure, now
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therefore, be it
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RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated out of any money in the treasury not
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otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2027 the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) to
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support the green economy and clean energy bond initiatives as set forth in Article 5 of the
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Governor's proposed budget, relating to a capital development program and the state controller is
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hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of
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said sum, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers and said funds shall be specifically
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appropriated as follows:
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Section 1. Appropriations
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(1) Ten million dollars ($10,000,000) to support utility-scale geothermal energy and
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energy storage projects, including:
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(i) Utility-scale thermal energy network pilot projects;
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(ii) Battery energy storage projects that enhance grid reliability and resilience;
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(2) Seven million dollars ($7,000,000) to the Office of Energy Resources to support
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scaled and bundled residential energy affordability and distributed energy resources, including:
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(i) Two million dollars ($2,000,000) for residential weatherization and energy efficiency
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improvements

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(ii) Five million dollars ($5,000,000) for distributed energy resources, including rooftop
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solar, storage, and other clean energy technologies;
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(3) Two million dollars ($2,000,000) to the department of transportation, or other
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appropriate state agencies, to support the implementation of the statewide transit master plan and
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or bicycle mobility plan; and
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(4) One million dollars ($1,000,000) to support the installation of solar photovoltaic
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systems on public school buildings.
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Section 2: Administration of Funds
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(1) With respect to the funds allocated pursuant to Section 1, Project (1) of this resolution
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the Office of Energy Resources (“OER”) shall administer such funds to Rhode Island Energy.
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(2) With respect to the funds allocated pursuant to Section 1, Project (2) of this act, the
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Office of Energy Resources (“OER”) shall administer such funds through a bundled project
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delivery model, to the maximum extent practicable, in order to create scale, reduce per-unit costs,
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and support consistent, high-quality project execution.
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(3) OER shall develop program guidelines that allow qualified contractors to
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competitively bid on bundled projects or portfolios of work, rather than on a project-by-project
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basis, consistent with applicable state procurement laws. As a condition of eligibility to perform
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work funded under this subsection, OER shall establish a contractor vetting and qualification
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process and maintain a list of prequalified or preferred contractors, based on an assessment of
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whether a contractor:
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(i) Holds all required licenses, registrations, and certifications to perform the work;
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(ii) Is in compliance with state and federal payroll, tax, unemployment insurance, and
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prevailing wage laws, where applicable;
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(iii) Demonstrates a history of safety compliance and successful completion of similar
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projects;
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(iv) Demonstrates a commitment to apprenticeship utilization, workforce training, and
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fair labor practices; and
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(v) Has not been debarred, suspended, or had relevant credentials revoked by any federal,
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state, or local government agency.
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(4) Compliance with such standards shall be a condition of contract award, and OER
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shall retain the authority to remove contractors from eligibility for failure to maintain compliance.
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LC006052 - Page 2 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS ($20,000,000) TO
SUPPORT GREEN ECONOMY AND CLEAN ENERGY BOND INITIATIVES
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This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of twenty million dollars
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($20,000,000) to support the green economy and clean energy bond initiatives as set forth in the
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Governor's proposed budget, relating to a capital development program.
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LC006052
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LC006052 - Page 3 of 3