On March 28, 2019, the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources announced a new set of initiatives to encourage solar projects located on brownfields. The program also aims to boost the number of solar carports.
Brownfields—former industrial or commercial sites where future use is affected by real or perceived contamination—are often ideal locations for renewable energy projects.
Starting March 11, 2019, solar PV projects that are sited on brownfields are eligible for financial incentives from the Renewable Energy Fund. One million dollars have been earmarked for this initiative.
Solar carports – solar arrays typically installed over parking areas – help maximize the use of available space. One million dollars have been earmarked in the Commercial Scale Renewable Energy Fund for solar carports.
State funding for the solar brownfields and carports initiatives is made possible thanks to Rhode Island’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
CommerceRI’s Renewable Energy Fund (REF) helps expand the role of renewable energy throughout Rhode Island by providing grants for clean energy projects that have the potential to produce electricity in a cleaner, more sustainable manner, while stimulating job growth in the green technology and energy sectors.
Applications will be accepted after June 3, 2019.