Pawtucket, RI – Governor Lincoln D. Chafee hosted a ceremonial signing today at Slater Mill of three bills that will increase local renewable energy while allowing Rhode Island to participate in the development of a clean, secure regional energy system. He was joined by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Congressman David Cicilline, Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien, the bills' sponsors Senator V. Susan Sosnowski, Representative Brian Patrick Kennedy, Senator William A. Walaska (who sponsored two of the bills), Representative Katherine S. Kazarian, Representative Deborah Ruggiero, Commissioner of the Office of Energy Resources Dr. Marion Gold, National Grid Rhode Island President Timothy Horan, and Slater Mill Executive Director Lori Urso.
"I am proud to sign these energy bills championed by my Administration and our General Assembly. They will strengthen our state's clean energy economy and foster a more reliable, cost-effective energy system in Rhode Island," Governor Chafee said. "Collectively, they will create jobs, remove barriers facing small businesses, grow the economy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy security for Rhode Islanders."
The bills were the Affordable Clean Energy Security Act (ACES), the Renewable Energy Growth Program (REG), and an amendment to an Act Relating to Business and Professions – Electricians and Plumbers (Renewable Energy Professional Certificate). ACES, sponsored by Representative Kennedy and Senator Walaska, allows Rhode Island to participate in regional efforts to address energy reliability and price volatility challenges through the pursuit of cost-effective energy infrastructure projects. REG, sponsored by Representative Ruggiero and Senator Sosnowski, expands the current Distributed Generation Contracts Program to 200 MW of capacity for in-state renewable energy systems and expands the program to include small-scale solar systems. The Renewable Energy Professional Certificate was sponsored by Representative Kazarian and Senator Walaska, and updated electrical and plumber licensing laws to clarify the roles of electricians and Renewable Energy Professionals working on renewable project installations.
"Rhode Island continues to lead the way on clean energy," said Senator Whitehouse, a co-chair of the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change and the Senate Climate Action Task Force. "These bills will remove barriers to investing in renewables, while ensuring that Rhode Islanders have access to affordable and reliable energy. I congratulate Governor Chafee, the General Assembly, and all those who helped make these bills law."
"I want to thank the Governor and members of the General Assembly for their leadership to develop Rhode Island's clean, affordable energy sector," said Congressman Cicilline. "Rhode Island has enormous potential to produce clean domestic energy that supports good paying jobs and these bills will support regional efforts to encourage growth in this industry to secure our clean energy future."
"I want to thank the Governor and the General Assembly for their leadership and passing this legislation for Affordable Clean Energy," Mayor Grebien said. "As the state looks to strengthen its clean energy economy, it is fitting that the signing is being held at the Historic Slater Mill in Pawtucket where the Industrial Revolution started."
Marion Gold, the Commissioner of the Office of Energy Resources, strongly supported this suite of innovative and forward-looking legislation. She added, "Energy costs and reliability are a critical component of our economy, impacting every Ocean State business and resident. This package of legislation positions Rhode Island to take local and regional actions that will support job growth and investment in our clean energy economy, and help lead Rhode Island toward a secure, cost-effective and sustainable energy future."
Senator Sosnowski said: "It wasn't too long ago that legislation to benefit the environment was viewed as inconsistent with legislation to improve our economy. The bills we are celebrating today are good for both the environment and the economy. They build on work we have undertaken over the past several years to support the renewable energy industry, and the creation of green jobs while containing energy costs for businesses and homeowners."
Senator Walaska said: "These new laws diversify energy production, drive down the cost of energy for residents and small businesses alike, and foster job growth in green industries. We are removing regulatory barriers to solar production and increasing small scale production of energy, while the Clean Energy Security Act sets the stage to address pipeline capacity constraints on natural gas and opens the door for clean, affordable and reliable hydropower and wind power."
"New England faces serious challenges in regard to energy, the foremost of which is cost. We have some of the highest energy costs in the nation because we are literally at the end of the pipeline," Representative Kennedy said. "Addressing the problem, ensuring a secure supply of energy at the best possible cost begins with infrastructure investments and diversification of our energy mix. Rhode Island cannot do this alone. This legislation we have enacted – the Affordable Clean Energy Security Act -- allows us to work with our regional neighboring states in New England to collectively address these issues."
"National Grid is proud again to be an important partner with the Governor, Speaker Mattiello and Senate President Paiva Weed, the legislative sponsors and all who collaborated on passage of these significant legislative measures. Passage of these bills puts us in a strong position in the region by advancing renewable energy and preparing Rhode Island for opportunities for affordable hydropower and expansion of the region's natural gas supplies," National Grid of Rhode Island's Horan said.
For more information, contact: Allison Rogers, at 401-222-2280 or allison.rogers@doa.ri.gov.