Renewable energy bill poised for vote
A bill that would pave the way for an offshore wind farm cleared the R.I. Senate Tuesday and will likely come to a vote in the House Wednesday evening, a spokesman said.
The bill directs the R.I. Public Utilities Commission to approve or reject a proposed power purchase agreement between offshore wind farm developer Deepwater Wind and National Grid within 45 days. The commission rejected a proposed contract in April, saying the wholesale price of electricity at 24.4 cents a kilowatt-hour in the first year was too high.
House spokesman Larry Berman said the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources heard three hours of testimony Tuesday that stretched into the wee hours of Wednesday morning. The committee is expected to meet again Wednesday afternoon and recommend the full House pass the bill that evening, Berman said. House leaders have targeted Wednesday as the last day of the session. Read more…
