A bill to create a statewide permitting process for rooftop solar PV projects in Rhode Island has passed the state’s Senate. S. 2174 would establish a task force within the Office of Regulatory Reform to prepare a report with recommendations for a statewide permitting process for small residential and small commercial rooftop solar projects by December 31, 2016. The bill would require the Office of Regulatory Reform and the Office of Energy Resources to propose legislation to establish a statewide permitting process, as recommended by the report, by January 31, 2017.