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SR 1161

SENATE RESOLUTION RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF ENERGY RESOURCES TO UNDERTAKE A REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF BENCHMARKING PROGRAMS FOR MUNICIPAL AND PRIVATE BUILDINGS GREATER THAN 25,000 SQUARE FEET

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Meghan Kallman

Rhode Island requests the Office of Energy Resources to review and recommend expanding building benchmarking to municipal and private buildings over 25,000 sq ft, with a plan and t

06/20/2025 Senate read and passed
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Bill Summary · SR 1161

Summary of Rhode Island Senate Resolution SR 1161

Overview

  • Type: Senate Resolution (SR)
  • Number: SR 1161
  • Title: Respectfully requesting the Office of Energy Resources to undertake a review and analysis of benchmarking programs for municipal and private buildings greater than 25,000 square feet
  • Introduced: June 20, 2025 (Senator Meghan E. Kallman)
  • Status: Senate read and passed; placed on the Senate Consent Calendar on June 20, 2025
  • Purpose: To commission a comprehensive review by the Office of Energy Resources (OER) of benchmarking programs, and to develop recommendations for expanding benchmarking to large municipal and private buildings.

Purpose and Intent

  • Build on Rhode Island’s leadership under the 2021 Act on Climate by improving the state's ability to measure and reduce energy use and emissions from large buildings.
  • Address gaps in up-to-date emissions and energy-use data for large buildings (greater than 25,000 sq ft), which are estimated to represent up to 10% of statewide emissions or about one-fifth of building-sector emissions.
  • Establish a path for a statewide benchmarking program that includes both public (municipal/state) and private sector buildings over 25,000 sq ft.

Key Provisions and Provisions For Action

The resolution directs the Office of Energy Resources (OER) to:
- Review current benchmarking efforts on state properties and report on their status and effectiveness.
- Develop recommendations for expanding benchmarking to municipal and private buildings larger than 25,000 square feet, including:
- Implementation timeline
- Staffing requirements
- Required resources
- Necessary programmatic changes
- Seek feedback from the League of Cities and Towns and the Chambers of Commerce regarding benchmarking implementation and data collection.
- Coordinate with Rhode Island Energy on modeling data, implementation approaches, and cost considerations for a benchmarking program.
- Produce recommendations on how to implement a state benchmarking program for the targeted building group (municipal and private buildings >25,000 sq ft).

Scope and Data Considerations

  • Emphasizes alignment with existing benchmarking efforts and modeling data needs.
  • Considers interagency coordination and public-private sector input to ensure practical design and cost feasibility.

Timeline and Deliverables

  • Public report due to Senate on or before February 27, 2026.
  • The report should include findings, recommendations, and a plan for potential implementation.

Stakeholders and Affected Parties

  • Office of Energy Resources (OER): Lead agency for conducting the review and delivering the report.
  • Municipalities and private building owners/managers of facilities larger than 25,000 sq ft.
  • Rhode Island Energy: Potential partner for data modeling, implementation planning, and cost analysis.
  • Stakeholder groups: League of Cities and Towns; Chambers of Commerce.

Procedural Status and Next Steps

  • As a resolution, SR 1161 requests consideration and action by OER rather than mandating new law or funding.
  • If the Senate approves the findings and recommendations, the report may inform future legislation or policy initiatives related to building benchmarking in Rhode Island.
  • Secretary of State is authorized to transmit a certified copy of the resolution to the Commissioner of the Office of Energy Resources.

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

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