AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE (Incorporates ethical energy standards to the 2021 Act on Climate.)

S2219

2026 -- S 2219
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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE

Introduced By:
Senators de la Cruz, Rogers, and Appollonio

Date Introduced:
January 23, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Environment & Agriculture
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 42-6.2 of the General Laws entitled "2021 Act on Climate" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following sections:
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42-6.2-7.1. Study of impact to developing countries.

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(a) The council, pursuant to the council's responsibility and oversight in accordance with
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the provisions of § 42-6.2-1, shall study, make determinations and report to the speaker of the
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house, the president of the senate and the governor whether any enacted legislation or programs or
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policies adopted or implemented by the state or any of its subdivisions or agencies has the effect of
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shifting environmental impact of carbon-free energy technologies onto impoverished and
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developing countries, including, but not limited to:
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(1) Disclosing human rights abuses and labor conditions of workers mining,
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manufacturing, and recycling carbon-free energy technologies and the materials of which carbon-
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free energy technologies are composed;
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(2) Disclosing the environmental impacts of copper, lithium, cobalt, nickel, and
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neodymium mining;
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(3) Disclosing the traceability of mining supply chains used in carbon-free energy
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technology products; and
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(4) Documenting the effects of toxic pollution resulting from the decommissioning,
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recycling, and disposal of carbon-free energy technology products.
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(b) The report required pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be

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submitted to the speaker of the house, the president of the senate and the governor annually on or
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before January 15.
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42-6.2-8.1. Nickel supply study.

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The council shall conduct an annual study that calculates the amount of the element nickel
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that is contained in electric vehicle batteries and in energy storage facilities sold or constructed in
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the state. The study shall also identify the country, state or province of origin of the nickel. The
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study shall be completed no later than November 1, of each year, beginning in 2027, and shall be
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distributed to the speaker of the house, president of the senate, and the governor.
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42-6.2-8.2. Solar panels -- Recycling and decommissioning.

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No solar energy permit as defined in § 45-68-2 shall be issued unless the permit applicant
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has committed in writing and submitted evidence demonstrating that sufficient resources shall be
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available and set aside to pay for the decommissioning and recycling of the photovoltaic panels
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comprising the solar electric generating systems at the end of their useful life.
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SECTION 2. Chapter 23-18.9 of the General Laws entitled "Refuse Disposal" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following section:
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23-18.9-19. Disposal of wind turbine blades.

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Blades from a decommissioned or repowered wind energy conversion system operating in
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this state shall be disposed of or recycled within this state, unless the blades are to be recycled into
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a useful byproduct, upon approval by the department of environmental management after
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consultation with the council, at a facility located outside of the state.
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SECTION 3. Chapter 39-26.4 of the General Laws entitled "Net Metering" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following section:
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39-26.4-6. Disposal of wind turbine blades.

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(a) The division of public utilities and carriers ("division") shall create a program for
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tradable renewable energy credits for electricity generated by eligible energy technology. The
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credits shall represent energy produced by an eligible energy technology, and the program shall be
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implemented in coordination with the provision of chapter 82 of title 23.
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(1) Each kilowatt-hour of renewable energy credits shall be treated the same as a kilowatt-
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hour of eligible energy technology generated or procured by an electric utility if it is produced by
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an eligible energy technology.
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(2) The program shall permit a credit to be used only once. The program shall treat all
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eligible energy technology equally and shall not give more or less credit to energy based on where
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in the state the energy was generated or the technology with which the energy was generated. The
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division shall determine the period in which the credits may be used for purposes of the program.

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(b) In lieu of generating or procuring energy directly to satisfy the eligible energy
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technology objective of chapter 82 of title 23 and chapter 6.2 of title 42, an electric utility may
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utilize renewable energy credits allowed under the program to satisfy the objective.
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(c) The division may facilitate a program authorizing the trading of renewable energy
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credits between states.
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(d) The division shall promulgate rules and regulations requiring all electric utilities to
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participate in an approved credit-tracking system or systems and establishing protocols for trading
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credits; provided, however, after July 1, 2027, no renewable energy credit shall be authorized if the
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credit is associated with electricity generated from a facility:
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(1) Composed of materials excavated, processed, or manufactured outside the United States
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that uses slave labor, or child labor, as determined by the United Nations International Labor
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Organization; or
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(2) For which silicon tetrachloride, cadmium, lead, or a chemical listed by the United States
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Environmental Protection Agency as a known or suspected carcinogen or genotoxin was used in
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its manufacturing process.
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SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE
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This act would require that the climate change coordinating council study and report on
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legislation or programs that are shifting environmental impacts of the use of carbon-free energy
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technologies onto impoverished and developing countries. This act would also require that wind
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turbine blades be disposed of within this state unless recycled. This act would further establish a
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program for tradable, renewable energy credits to be used in coordination with the provisions of
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the regional greenhouse gas initiative act, chapter 82 of title 23.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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