Policy and licensing / Rhode Island
Rhode Island authorization to participate in nuclear-power procurement
From 23 June 2025, Rhode Island law authorizes the distribution utility to participate voluntarily in procuring nuclear power for ratepayers. That authorization is not a permit to build a reactor.
- Category
- Laws, rules and executive directives
- Status
- In effect
- Instrument
- statute · R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-31-5
- Issued by
- Rhode Island General Assembly
- Jurisdiction
- Rhode Island
- Affects
- State programme administration
- In effect from
- 23 Jun 2025 · actual · day
- Expiry or completion
- None recorded
- Operative text
- Rhode Island General Laws section 39-31-5 (Official statute page opened 4 October 2026)
- Last checked · next review
- 2026-10-04 · 2027-04-15
Legal and geographic scope
The distribution utility, in consultation with the office of energy resources and the division of public utilities and carriers, is authorized to participate voluntarily in efforts to procure nuclear power, among other resources, for electric ratepayers. The history line prints P.L. 2025, ch. 101 and ch. 102, each effective 23 June 2025.
Not approved or still pending
The section authorizes voluntary participation in procurement. It does not require a purchase and it does not site or permit a reactor. Any procurement the same section addresses must be commercially reasonable. No project is linked.
Dated lifecycle
- 23 Jun 2025 · actual · day · Took effect — The history line prints effective June 23, 2025 for both 2025 public laws cited on the page. (Rhode Island General Laws section 39-31-5)
Related instruments
Projects or designs named by the source
- None. Location in this jurisdiction does not make a project eligible for, or approved under, this measure.
Sources
- Rhode Island General Laws section 39-31-5 (government_primary, accessed 2026-10-04)