The bill amends Chapter 16-9 of the General Laws by introducing a new section, 16-9-11, which requires the Department of Education and the Office of Energy Resources to develop and adopt regulations mandating that all school buildings meet the latest Northeast Collaborative for High Performance Schools (NE-CHPS) standard of zero energy capable by December 31, 2037. The regulations must allow flexibility for local education agencies to pursue state and federal funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy systems without penalties that would affect state housing aid. Additionally, the bill provides guidance for local education agencies on the construction, ownership, and operation of solar panels in accordance with federal guidelines.

The bill also makes several amendments to Chapter 16-7, including the introduction of a new definition for "zero energy capable," which specifies that a building must meet the NE-CHPS standard whereby the actual annual energy delivered must be less than or equal to the renewable energy generated onsite or a combination of onsite and offsite renewable energy sources. Furthermore, it increases the school housing aid ratio for projects that meet certain criteria, such as high-performance school design or energy efficiency upgrades, with specific provisions for projects that allocate a significant portion of costs to these purposes.

Moreover, the bill establishes new requirements for school housing projects, including the necessity of an owner's program manager and a commissioning agent for projects exceeding $1.5 million. It allows for reimbursement of environmental site remediation costs and emphasizes compliance with apprenticeship programs, independent studies for larger projects, and adherence to prevailing wage laws. The bill expands the responsibilities of the school building authority to ensure that all school buildings achieve zero energy capability by the specified deadline.

Statutes affected:
2229: 16-105-3