The bill introduced to the Rhode Island General Assembly, known as the Building Decarbonization Act of 2024, seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings by establishing a program for energy benchmarking of large buildings and setting energy performance standards. It mandates that new buildings and major alterations be electric-ready and provides the Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4) with the necessary resources to administer these responsibilities. The bill adds a new chapter to Title 23 of the General Laws, defining key terms and outlining the types of buildings included in the program, data privacy measures, and the creation of a fund to support building performance standards.

Key provisions of the bill include the establishment of the green building advisory committee (GBAC) and the environmental justice advisory board (EJAB), which will advise on benchmarking requirements and equitable engagement in climate change efforts, respectively. The bill sets forth requirements for energy use benchmarking, including the types of information to be collected and the responsibilities of the EC4 in issuing guidance and regulations. It also introduces requirements for electric and gas distribution companies to provide anonymized and aggregated energy usage data to assist building owners with compliance. Additionally, the bill outlines the roles of municipalities, the establishment of interim and final building performance standards, the creation of a Building Performance Standards (BPS) fund, and the requirement for new buildings to be electric-ready. There are no deletions indicated in the provided text, and the act will take effect upon passage.