Westerly Farm gets solar energy grant

State Money to Help Power Solar and Green Startups

By TIM FAULKNER/ecoRI News staff

PROVIDENCE — The Renewable Energy Fund (REF) recently awarded four businesses, two farms and a religious shrine grants ranging from $18,900 to $121,000 for new solar-energy projects. In all, Commerce RI has awarded $379,000 to projects that are expected to employee 19 subcontractors.

During its monthly meeting on Oct. 27, the Commerce RI board also approved $250,000 from the REF to help green-tech startups launch and promote their businesses. The funds are part of an application for a federal match. The state-financed Slater Technology Fund will manage the new fund.

Here is the list of the most recently awarded solar grants:

• $18,900 was awarded to Hillandale Farm in Westerly for a 15-kilowatt ground-mounted solar array. The grant covers 28 percent of the $68,040 project. G.S. Roy Electrical Services is the installer.
• $23,719 was awarded to the Vedanta Society of Providence for a 19-kilowatt rooftop and awning array. The grant covers 30 percent of the $78,746 project. BCX Energy is the installer. The Vendata Society is a site for prayers and meditation, and is a spiritual retreat.
• $27,500 was awarded to Lepore Farm, a hay and equestrian farm in Lincoln, for a 22-kilowatt barn-top solar array. The grant covers 35 percent of the $78,171 project. RGS Energy is the installer.
• $31,500 was awarded to International Sourcing and Marketing Ltd. of Providence for a 25-kilowatt rooftop solar array. The grant covers 31 percent of the $100,800 project. ISM Solar Solutions is the installer.
• $60,937 was awarded to developer RJB Properties LLC of Lincoln for a 49-kilowatt array on the roof of a new commercial office building. The grant covers 43 percent of the $141,250 project. Theber General Contracting is the installer.
• $92,381 was awarded to West Main Self Storage in Middletown for a 77-kilowatt rooftop solar array. The grant covers 33 percent of the $275,495 project. Self-installing.
• $121,304 was awarded to Arpin Van Lines of West Warwick for a 104-kilowatt rooftop solar array. The grant covers 44 percent of the $275,000 project. Clean Energy Economy is the developer.

This was the REF's third round of awards for commercial solar projects in 2014. The REF receives about $2 million annually from a monthly surcharge paid by National Grid electricity customers. The fund balance is $6.9 million.

The commercial-scale solar grant program is one of four grant and loan programs offered by the REF. The others classes are small-scale solar, pre-development renewable-energy companies and renewable companies in early-stage development.