Mayor expects lots of takers for solar energy program

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 10/15/15

Mayor Scott Avedisian believes the Solarize Rhode Island Program will be successful in Warwick because, “the people here realize that when something is good for the environment it’s good for …

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Mayor expects lots of takers for solar energy program

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Mayor Scott Avedisian believes the Solarize Rhode Island Program will be successful in Warwick because, “the people here realize that when something is good for the environment it’s good for them.”

On Oct. 8 Avedisian along with other municipal leaders as well as representatives from the Office of Energy Resources (OER), the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation as well as SmartPower announced the 7 cities and towns participating in the third phase of Solarize.

Through a “competitive tiered pricing structure” Solarize promotes the use of solar power by increasing the savings available to both residential and business clients as more people sign up for the system.

The program began through a partnership between the OER, Commerce RI and the non-profit marketing firm SmartPower.

The first two phases of Solarize included North Smithfield, Tiverton and Little Compton. In the past two years, Solarize has seen 150 home and business owners sign contracts for solar electric systems.

North Smithfield alone saw 84 contracts with a total of 623 kilowatts. In both Little Compton and Tiverton the solar installations were doubled with the help of Solarize.

The system works through municipalities partnering with selected system installers to provide discounted rates for residents. Then customers can save on their monthly electric bill with the solar power supplement.

Savings from anyone building vary depending on the size of both building and system as well as the average energy output and use.

Municipal funds are not used through this program, rather installers receive support from the OER, Commerce Rhode Island and SmartPower. There are also both state and federal incentives available to owners. Here in Rhode Island home and small business owners can receive assistance through Commerce Rhode Island’s Energy Fund, a grant which the installer will apply for. Currently the incentive rate is $1.15 per watt up to $10,000 per project.

At the federal level, the government can provide an investment tax credit equal to 30 percent of the total cost of any system.

Other municipalities participating are, Barrington, Foster, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, and South Kingstown.

With this new phase of Solarize, Brian Keane, President of SmartPower, believes Rhode Island could become the national leader in solar energy.

“The Ocean State is on the verge of becoming ‘the Solar State’,” he said. “Indeed, if you’ve ever thought about buying solar, it’s never been easier and more affordable than it is today in Rhode Island.”

Governor Gina Raimondo said, “This is another example of our state taking action to reduce long-term energy costs and preserve the environment, while creating growth opportunities for Rhode Island workers and businesses. As we work to spark a comeback in Rhode Island, we will continue to collaborate across the public and private sector to reduce energy costs, shrink our carbon footprint, and make it easier to do business in Rhode Island.”

State Energy Commissioner, Marion Gold, said this program is beneficial on so many levels between saving consumers money, driving economic growth, reducing energy costs across the board and making progress towards “environmental goals.”

“It is encouraging to see more Rhode Island communities embrace the Solarize Rhode Island program while we, as a state, work to reduce energy costs. Programs providing cost reductions to businesses and residents is one tool we are using to reduce energy costs and promote growth in the green and technology sectors,” said Rhode Island Commerce Corporation President and Chief Operating Officer Darin Early.

Avedisian said that in less than a week since the announcement City Hall has received numerous calls from individuals looking for more information about the program and small independent contractors willing to work with the city. Potential customers can register for a free, no obligation assessment where installers can lay out the various options available to any one building.

“We want people to understand the possibilities of solar power in their home. The goal is to get people to at least look at solar power as an option,” he said.

As the leading city in recycling efforts, Avedisian said it’s obvious the residents in Warwick are environmentally conscious and want to do their part. He hopes the business community as well will look to solar energy and the money they could save by installing a system. The city itself is looking into viable municipal buildings that could potentially utilize solar energy.

“Solar power gives families another option when they look at energy costs,” Avedisian said. “This is a good fit for us here in Warwick. It is good for the economy and the environment to be aware of energy conservation.”

For more information on Solarize Rhode Island visit their website www.solarizeri.ocm or call City Hall at 401-738-2000.

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