§ 42-140.4-1. Establishment of commission — Purposes.
(a) There is hereby authorized, created, and established an advisory commission to be
known as "The Rhode Island petroleum savings and independence advisory commission�
with the powers and duties set forth in this chapter.
(b) The purposes of this commission are to:
(1) To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants from the associated use of petroleum;
(2) To make recommendations to the governor, general assembly, and public utilities commission
on how to reduce petroleum-based fuel consumption in Rhode Island;
(3) To provide input into decisions regarding fossil fuels in the state and to inform
the public and elected and appointed state officials of such opportunities, decisions,
and implementation;
(4) To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of state policies and programs to reduce
petroleum-based fuel consumption;
(5) To consider and evaluate in-state marketing for advanced biofuels, electric cars,
efficiency programs for heating oil customers, and low level blends of biodiesel across
segments of the heating and transportation sector in order to keep more energy dollars
in Rhode Island; and
(6) To act on matters related to reducing petroleum consumption from the heating and transportation
sectors in the state including, but not limited to, the creation of a petroleum savings
and independence plan ("Plan�) that includes a report, drawing on existing data and
studies rather than new analyses, on petroleum consumption in Rhode Island and the
impact of petroleum dependence on the state. The report must consider:
(i) Future petroleum costs to the drivers, homeowners, industries, and businesses of Rhode
Island;
(ii) Environmental, public health, and national security consequences of Rhode Island's
petroleum dependence;
(iii) Local economic development opportunities, including job creation potential, of improving
energy efficiency and moving to clean, renewable, in-state energy sources;
(iv) Proposed targets for reducing Rhode Island's total petroleum consumption that equals
the maximum economically achievable savings. The targets may not provide less than
a thirty percent (30%) overall reduction in petroleum consumption from 2007 levels
by 2030 and a fifty percent (50%) overall reduction from 2007 levels by 2050; and
(v) Recommendations of the near-term and long-range strategies to achieve significant
reductions in petroleum consumption to the governor, speaker of the house, president
of the senate, and public utilities commission. The recommendations shall include,
but not be limited to the following:
(A) Promoting and incentivizing transportation alternatives to personal vehicle use, including
expanding, investing in, and ensuring sustainable funding for public transportation
including rail options, and offering incentives for commuters to use public transportation
where available;
(B) Promoting and incentivizing other practices to reduce fuel use in transportation,
including fuel-efficient vehicles and carpooling, and establishing rebates or other
consumer incentives for retiring older, inefficient vehicles;
(C) The rapid deployment of electric vehicles, through a combination of policies that
include comprehensive planning with utilities, investments in electric vehicle infrastructure,
and consumer tax incentives;
(D) The implementation of "clean fuels� standards requiring transportation fuels above
a certain emissions target to purchase offsets from fuel sources that produce lower
carbon emissions;
(E) Coordinating land use and transportation planning where sensible to pursue "complete
streets� policies that create walkable and bikeable communities with access to public
transit options, and to encourage growth in areas accessible by walking, biking, and
public transportation;
(F) Where possible, measures to reduce fuel use in aviation;
(G) Diversifying energy sources for heating by expanding renewable sources;
(H) Creating programs to deliver home and commercial weatherization and efficiency improvements
for households using oil for heat; and
(I) Adopting other strategies that can help enable Rhode Island to achieve the oil reduction
targets.
(c) The commission shall report to the general assembly by April 2013 with recommendations
for specific legislative and administrative actions. By February 2014, and by February
every two (2) years thereafter, the advisory commission shall evaluate the state's
progress toward meeting the petroleum-reduction goals and update the plan to make
additional recommendations as necessary to ensure that the state meets such goals.