Finding The Right Balance For RI’s Solar Future
Friend,
Earlier this session, the Senate unanimously approved Environment & Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Alana DiMario’s legislation to create the Rhode Island Renewable Ready program. That important bill seeks to build on the historic progress we’ve made on climate action in recent years and set the stage for the future of solar energy development here in Rhode Island, which is a key component of our transition to a renewable energy future.
Chairwoman DiMario has been a true leader on climate and environmental issues, and now, we are working to advance another of her proposals aimed at fostering solar energy expansion in Rhode Island while preserving natural landscapes and protecting ratepayers.
The legislation, which we hope to pass next week, would amend existing state law related to net metering agreements for solar projects. In short, it would set new guidelines for solar siting, seeking to direct solar projects to locations with existing development – such as parking lots, rooftops, landfills, gravel pits, medians along major roadways, and other spaces – rather than Rhode Island’s core forests.
For several years, large-scale solar projects requiring the mass clearing of trees have been the leading cause of forest loss in our state.
Many municipalities have taken steps to reverse this trend through zoning regulations, but we need action at the state level.
Chairwoman DiMario’s legislation will create the necessary incentives and guidelines to both encourage development of solar projects and prevent the clear-cutting of trees to make way for them.
Finding that right balance for Rhode Island’s solar future has been the subject of years of discussion. Chairwoman DiMario’s legislation is the product of extensive talks with a wide coalition of stakeholders, and we want to recognize her leadership and thank everyone whose efforts have brought us to this point.
Achieving Rhode Island’s climate and energy goals should not, and must not, conflict with our work to protect forests and open spaces. As we have seen with the Act on Climate, our nation-leading work on offshore wind, and our ambitious renewable energy targets, we can make incredible progress if we work together and bring many voices to the table.
In the Senate, we remain committed to confronting the climate crisis, building a cleaner, more sustainable future for our state, and protecting the natural spaces that make this such a special place to call home.
Sincerely,
Donny and Ryan