Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee’s proposed legislation authorizing a new offshore wind procurement passed the General Assembly on Thursday and is now on the governor’s desk for his signature.

McKee asked sponsors Sen. Dawn Euer (D) and Rep. Arthur Handy (D) in March to introduce the legislation (S2583/H7971), which the governor said at the time would further the “state’s position as the North American hub for industry activity.”

The House Corporations Committee on June 21 recommended that the House pass the bill with amendments that include increasing the original proposed 600-MW procurement to between 600 and 1,000 MW and directing Rhode Island Energy (RIE) to issue a request for proposals by Oct. 15.

“The offshore wind industry is driving investment in job growth in the local green economy, and this is a good bill that moves us in that direction,” Rep. Joseph Solomon (D), chair of the Corporations Committee, said on the House floor.

RIE would evaluate developer bids on environmental and fisheries impacts, economic benefits, and diversity, equity and inclusion measures. Each RFP would need to include a plan for enabling “historically marginalized communities” to access employment and vendor opportunities related to the project.

The bill would also give the Public Utilities Commission the authority to rule on disputed contract terms, if any occur during negotiations, and direct RIE to secure a final contract.

New procurements under this legislation, together with the already-commissioned 30-MW Block Island Wind Farm and the planned 400-MW Revolution Wind project, could provide 50% of the state’s estimated energy needs, according to a statement from the House.

The legislature also sent a bill to the governor on June 21 that would amend the state’s Renewable Energy Standard to require 100% of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2033.