Commercial Scale Renewable Energy Grants (Commerce RI)

The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation (Commerce RI) seeks to fund commercial scale renewable energy projects generating electricity for onsite- consumption. Commerce RI provides incentives for renewable-energy projects. Incentive programs are funded by the Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund (REF) and alternative compliance payments (ACPs) from the state’s renewable portfolios standard (RPS). Eligibility Any legal business entity, municipality, non-profit, and affordable housing are eligible for funding. All projects must be located on Rhode Island and must be used for on-site consumption. Grants are available for electricity-generating renewable-energy systems greater than 10 kilowatts (kW). Eligible technologies include solar, wind, ocean, small hydro, biomass, and fuel cells. Customers participating in the RE Growth Program offered by National Grid are not eligible for the program. Program descriptionIncentive amounts are as follows: Incentive Value System Size $0.70/W For the first 0-50kW $0.40/W For the 2nd 50kW (up to 100 kW) $0.30/W For the 3rd 50 kW (up to 150 kW) $0.20/W For the 4th 50 kW (up to 151 kW and up) Maximum $75,000/project, $150,000/cap/block/installer Systems must be directly owned by the customer; third-party owned systems are only eligible for non-profit customers.

The program includes a solar carport adder of $0.55/W, up to 250 kW; there is also an energy storage adder of $0.50/W, up to $40,000.