Directs the office of energy resources to develop building performance standards for large buildings in Rhode Island that would cause greenhouse gas emissions to decline in line with the act on climate requirements.

## Rhode Island Building Performance Standards Act of 2026

This bill would direct Rhode Island's Office of Energy Resources to create new energy and emissions rules for large buildings in the state. These rules, called "building performance standards," would set limits on how much greenhouse gas a large building can emit, with the goal of reducing those emissions over time in line with Rhode Island's existing climate law — the Act on Climate — which requires the state to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decades.

The bill primarily affects owners of large commercial, institutional, and residential buildings — think office buildings, hospitals, apartment complexes, and similar large structures. Building owners would likely need to make upgrades over time, such as improving heating and cooling systems, adding better insulation, or switching from fossil fuel-powered equipment to electric alternatives, in order to meet the standards. Smaller homes and buildings would not be directly impacted by this legislation.

It's worth noting that the bill is still in its early stages. It has been referred to the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee and was recommended to be "held for further study," meaning lawmakers have not yet moved it forward for a full vote. The Office of Energy Resources would be responsible for developing the specific details of the standards, so the exact requirements for building owners would be determined through a later rulemaking process rather than spelled out fully in the bill itself.