Descripción

The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER) offers grants of up to $3.00/watt DC for for-profit entities and $3.50/watt DC for non-profit entities for photovoltaic (PV) projects installed in Rhode Island. Funding may not exceed the cost of a 25-kilowatt (kW) project. (Larger systems may be installed, but no funding will be provided for the incremental size of a system above 25 kW.) The maximum award for for-profits is $75,000; the maximum award for non-profits is $87,500. A total of $150,000 is available through this program for FY 2008. Mailed applications will be accepted beginning June 1, 2008. Applications will be accepted until July 30, 2008, or until funding is exhausted.

The OER is using a modified Request for Proposal (RFP) approach to select successful applicants.* The projects with the lowest requested incentive rate will receive the highest priority. To promote competition, no more than 50% of the funds awarded may be used for projects completed by any single installer. Sites must be located in the National Grid or Pascoag Utility District service territories, and must have an electrical demand of at least 10 kW. (Customers of Block Island Power Company are not eligible.) Energy production may not exceed 100% of historic annual electric energy purchases. Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) generated as a result of the project’s installation will be delivered to the Rhode Island REC market such that they may be allocated towards the state’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS).

All PV system equipment must be new. A schematic and shading analysis of the proposed site is required. Projects may not exceed shading levels above 7% and may be oriented up to 45 degrees east or west of true south. All projects must have an ISO-New England-approved energy meter that records the AC energy produced by the system. Projects must be installed according to all applicable state codes and/or OER regulations. A commissioning test will be conducted after system installation.

* See the OER web site (shown above) to access the current program RFP.