Excludes nuclear power from the office of energy resources and division of public utilities from participation, procuring and entering into long-term contracts.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would change Rhode Island's existing clean energy law — known as the Affordable Clean Energy Security Act — by specifically preventing two state agencies (the Office of Energy Resources and the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers) from including nuclear power in certain energy programs. Under current law, these agencies can participate in, purchase, or sign long-term contracts for various energy sources. This bill would draw a clear line excluding nuclear power from those activities.

In practical terms, this means Rhode Island's state government would be prohibited from using these agencies to secure nuclear energy through long-term contracts or related procurement processes. Long-term contracts are agreements where the state locks in an energy supply from a specific source over many years, often to provide price stability or energy reliability. By excluding nuclear power from this process, the bill would limit the types of energy sources these agencies could formally commit to on a long-term basis.

This bill primarily affects state energy agencies and, indirectly, Rhode Island energy ratepayers and utilities, since decisions about long-term energy contracts can influence electricity prices and the overall energy mix in the state. It does not appear to affect nuclear energy that may already be part of the regional power grid — it specifically targets the state agencies' ability to actively pursue or contract for nuclear power. The bill was recently introduced and referred to the House Corporations Committee, where it has been recommended for further study, meaning it has not yet moved forward in the legislative process.