Even Charlestown will get a piece of this

State Awards Last Small-Scale Solar Grants for 2014

By TIM FAULKNER/ecoRI News staff

PROVIDENCE — Small solar projects funded by the state Renewable Energy Fund (REF) finished off the year with 47 new projects. Overall, the program approved 127 solar installations in 2014. Last year, 89 small-scale solar projects were approved.

In this latest round, 45 approvals went to residential solar projects, and two went to a local chewing-gum company.

RGS Energy was the largest recipient of grants awarded Nov. 17 by the Commerce RI board of directors. The company received $157,688 for 20 new solar residential projects. Colorado-based RGS Energy has an office in Providence. Prior to a string of mergers, RGS Energy was formerly Alteris Renewables, SolarWrights and Solar Works. The company is the designated solar installer for the new Solarize RI bulk-discount purchase program in North Smithfield.

One of the 20 new RGS Energy solar projects received approval through that program, which began in October. So far, more than 250 kilowatts of new solar projects have committed to Solarize RI. Commerce RI is expected to vote on funding for most of the Solarize projects in January.

This was third and final round of grants awarded through the REF’s small-scale solar program this year. In all, $898,545 has been awarded to build 753 kilowatts of new small solar. The REF has committed $3,077,000 to both commercial and small solar projects this year. The REF is funded through a monthly fee on electric utility bills. The balance of the fund is $7,354,071.

Here are details of the latest round of funding:

• $157,688 to RGS Energy for 20 residential solar projects. The grant covers 25 percent of the $616,385 cost for projects in Barrington, Charlestown, Coventry, Cranston, Glocester, Lincoln, Portsmouth, Providence, Riverside, Saunderstown, Tiverton, Warren, Warwick, West Greenwich, Westerly and Wyoming.
• $131,844 to Newport Solar for 18 residential solar projects. The grant covers 26 percent of the $516,443 cost for projects located in Cranston, Cumberland, Exeter, Foster, Hope, Johnston, Little Compton, Mapleville, Middletown, North Kingstown and West Kingston.
• $19,800 to Sol Power of Providence for three residential solar projects in Providence and Wakefield. The REF covers 31 percent of the $64,260 cost for the projects.
• $13,875 to SunWatt Solar of Providence for two residential projects in Cumberland and Warren. The REF pays 34 percent of the $41,400 cost for the projects.
• $12,650 to US Solar Works of Attleboro, Mass., for a solar hot-water system and a solar photovoltaic system at Verve Inc. in Providence. Verve is the maker of Glee Gum. The REF grant covers 34 percent of the $52,130 project.
• $11,475 to Entech Engineering Inc. of Block Island for two residential projects. The projects will generate 9.18 megawatts of electricity. The REF pays for 15 percent of the $74,776 cost for the two island projects.