On Thursday, the Rhode Island Senate passed a bill sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Dawn Euer to give the General Assembly the authority to negotiate all undersea projects impacting areas over 25 acres, including transmission cables for offshore wind projects.
The bill (2024-S 2811A) now heads to the House, where Rep. Tina Spears (D-Dist. 36, Charlestown, New Shoreham, South Kingstown, Westerly) has introduced similar legislation (2024-H 8006).
“I know how important offshore wind is to the future of our energy needs here in Rhode Island,” said Senator Euer (D-District 13, Newport, Jamestown). “These projects are mostly being built offshore in federal waters, but their cables do cross Rhode Island waters. By allowing the General Assembly to set lease rates for the cable components of these projects, we can both ensure that they serve the public trust and streamline the approval and fee process to allow offshore wind developers to more easily account for costs when they plan these projects. A streamlined approval process and fee structure will benefit everyone involved in the long term.”
Senator Euer’s bill, which she introduced at the request of the Coastal Resources Management Council, would give the General Assembly the authority to negotiate on behalf of the state for all activities occurring in, on and over state submerged land extending beyond 25 acres. In most cases these projects will be cables, either to offshore wind projects or for telecom projects.
