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SB 2521

AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Pete Appollonio and 9 co-sponsors

Rhode Island aims to reach 100% renewable electricity by 2033–2044, tightening the use of existing resources and counting mechanisms, with annual ramped targets.

04/28/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · SB 2521

Summary of SB 2521 (Rhode Island, 2026) – Renewable Energy Standard

Purpose and Intent

SB 2521 proposes amendments to Rhode Island’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES) requirements for entities that sell electricity at retail to Rhode Island end-use customers. The bill adjusts (and accelerates) the percentage targets for renewable energy procurement and clarifies compliance mechanisms, with the overarching goal of increasing the share of electricity supplied from renewable energy sources and refining how compliance is demonstrated and counted.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • RevisedCompliance Schedule (a):
    The bill re-states and expands the RES targets starting in 2007, with a long-term trajectory to increase the share of retail electricity sales from eligible renewable resources. Summary of the revised path:
    • 2007: 3% of retail sales from eligible renewables.
    • 2008–2010: Additional 0.5% per year.
    • 2011–2014: An additional 1% per year (subject to the commission's assessment of renewable supply adequacy).
    • 2015–2022: An additional 1.5% per year.
    • 2023: 4% addition.
    • 2024: 5% addition. 2025–2036: 6% addition. 2026–2037 and 2027–2038: 7% addition (complex two-year span in the text; aligns to long-term ramp). 2028: 7.5%. 2029–2040: 8%. 2030–2041: 8.5%. 2031–2042: 9%. 2032–2043 and 2033–2044: 9.5%.
    • Goal: Reach 100% of Rhode Island’s electricity demand from renewable energy by 2033–2044 (and each year thereafter).

Note: The schedule includes some multi-year ranges with overlapping years (e.g., 2026–2037 and 2027–2038) that align with the stated long-term goal of 100% renewables by the early 2040s.

  • Limit on Existing Resources (b):
    For each obligated entity and compliance year, no more than 2% of total retail electricity sales used to meet RES obligations may derive from existing renewable energy resources.

  • Product-Specific Compliance (c):
    The minimum RES percentages must apply to every electrical energy product offered to end-use customers. Revenue or energy from voluntary renewable energy products cannot be counted toward meeting minimum percentages, with one exception:

    • Municipal aggregations under § 39-3-1.2 may include voluntary products in aggregation plans. The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (PUC), with input from the Office of Energy Resources and stakeholders, shall assess whether voluntary purchases can count toward annual percentages in 2024 and report its findings and recommendations by Sept. 1, 2024.

  • Certification and Compliance Mechanisms (d):
    Compliance may be demonstrated through:

    • NE-GIS certificates (certificates for renewable energy generation verified by the NE-GIS administrator) related to eligible renewable sources.
    • NE-GIS certificates from off-grid and customer-sited generation facilities, verified by the commission.
    • Initial title to NE-GIS certificates generally accrues to the owner of the facility (with exceptions by contract or regulatory order).

  • Alternative Compliance Payments (e):
    Instead of NE-GIS certificates, obligated entities may make payments to the Renewable Energy Development Fund established under § 39-26-7 to discharge all or part of their obligations.

  • Nonregulated Power Producer Contracts (f):
    Retail electricity sales under a nonregulated power producer’s supply contract executed before July 1, 2022, shall be required to obtain an additional 1.5% of retail electricity sales annually and are exempt from certain later-year percentages until the end date of the contract term.

  • Effective Date (SECTION 2):
    The act takes effect upon passage.

Who Is Affected

  • Obligated Entities: Retail electricity suppliers subject to Rhode Island’s RES.
  • Municipal Aggregators: May count voluntary products in aggregation plans if authorized; subject to commission’s evaluation.
  • Customers: End-use Rhode Island residential and commercial/industrial electricity customers purchasing through standard rate, competitive supply, or municipal aggregation plans.
  • Industry Stakeholders: Generators, certificate issuers (NE-GIS), and market participants involved in renewable energy procurement and compliance reporting.
  • Regulators: Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Office of Energy Resources, and the Renewable Energy Development Fund.

Procedural and Timeline Highlights

  • Assessment of Voluntary Purchases (c): The 2024 assessment and report on counting voluntary renewables toward RES percentages, due September 1, 2024.
  • Compliance Trajectory: The schedule uses multi-year ramps through 2044 to reach 100% renewable energy for Rhode Island, with annual percentage increments defined in the statutory text.
  • Immediate Effect: The act takes effect upon passage (no retroactive component beyond the stated applicability).

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Accelerates Rhode Island’s transition to renewable energy by defining a long-term, explicit path to 100% renewables.
  • Tightens limits on reliance on existing resources (2% cap) to broaden the renewable supply mix.
  • Clarifies governance of compliance through NE-GIS certificates and allows monetary penalties or fund transfers via the Renewable Energy Development Fund.
  • Introduces a provision to evaluate whether voluntary green products can count toward RES goals, potentially affecting product offerings and marketing by utilities and aggregators.
  • Impacts contract terms for pre-2022 nonregulated providers and long-term procurement planning.

This summary reflects the substantive provisions and their likely effects based on the bill text.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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