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Last Updated March 23, 2023

Program Overview

Category:

Financial Incentive

State:

Rhode Island

Incentive Type:

Grant Program

Administrator:

Commerce RI

Start Date:

01/01/2013

Expiration Date:

N/A

Web Site:

http://commerceri.com/finance-business/renewable-energy-fund/small-scale-projects/

Applicable Sectors:

Commercial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Residential, State Government, Installers/Contractors, Multifamily Residential, Low Income Residential, Integrators, Commercial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Residential, State Government, Installers/Contractors, Multifamily Residential, Low Income Residential, Integrators

Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:

Solar Water Heat, Solar Photovoltaics, Lithium-ion

Summary

Commerce Rhode Island provides financial grants for small scale solar photovoltaic systems and domestic solar water heating systems to help reduce energy costs and increase renewable energy adoption. The program is funded by the Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund (REF) and alternative compliance payments (ACPs) from the state’s renewable portfolios standard (RPS). The application for grants are solicited on a "Block" basis with specific application deadlines. 

Eligibility

All residential, business, affordable housing, non-profits, state facilities, and municipalities located in Rhode Island are eligible to apply for the grant. Systems that are directly owned (DO) and systems that are owned by Third Party (TPO) are both eligible. Customers participating in RE Growth Program offered by National Grid are not eligible to participate in the program. 

Grants are available for solar photovoltaic systems up to 7.6 kilowatts (kW) (anything above will receive the max) in capacity and domestic solar water-heating systems. There is also a flat adder available for programs with energy storage projects. Project owners must have conducted an energy audit prior to application submittal.