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This Web page summarizes wind activity on the following topics for the state of Rhode Island. Some of the following documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.
New England wind projects can be located on our Google Map. This page shows the location of installed and planned New England wind projects. Find windfarms, community-scale wind projects, customer-sited wind projects, small wind projects, and offshore wind projects.
Policies and Guidelines
Long-Term Contracts with Renewable Energy Generators
This information was last updated on 7/28/2009. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has opened Docket No. 4069 to develop regulations governing Long-Term Contracting Standards for renewable energy as mandated in P.L. 09-051 (House Bill 5002 Sub A as amended) and 09-053 (Senate Bill 111 Sub A as amended), to be codified as R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-26.1 et seq. The Commission must have the general Rules established by April 1, 2010 and by April 30, 2010 for utility scale projects. For more information, see the text of Law Promulgating Rulemaking (PDF 34 KB) and the Rhode Island PUC docket page (search for number 4069).
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This information was last updated on 7/28/2009. Rhode Island's Renewable Energy Standard encourages renewable energy development in Rhode Island and the region. It requires all load-serving entities in the state to supply 14% of their total electricity obligation from "New" renewable energy resources by the end of 2019. In addition, the Renewable Energy Standard requires 2% of supply from "Existing" renewable energy resources beginning in 2007. In 2020, and in each year thereafter, the minimum Renewable Energy Standard established in 2019 must be maintained unless the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (PUC) determines otherwise. Like the other New England states, Rhode Island utilizes the New England Generation Information System (GIS) to verify compliance and prevent double counting of Renewable Energy Credits.
Narragansett Electric, which does business as National Grid and is the largest electric distribution utility in Rhode Island, is periodically required to file Renewable Energy Standard Procurement Plans. The PUC rejected the company's 2009 Renewable Energy Standard Plan, citing the omission of long-term renewable energy contracts. This implied support for long-term contracts is significant for proposed wind energy projects in the region which may rely on the availability of long-term contracts to achieve financing and operation.
The PUC is also in the process of investigating the adequacy of regional renewable energy supplies to meet the planned Renewable Energy Standard target increase in 2011. A finding that there is, or is reasonably expected to be, an adequate amount of eligible new renewable energy supply denotes that the Renewable Energy Standard targets will increase as currently legislated. A finding of inadequate supply means that the 1% increase planned for 2011 will be delayed by one year. A second PUC adequacy review is required prior to implementing the 1.5% Renewable Energy Standard target increase currently set for 2015.
More Information
- An Act Relating to Public Utilities and Carriers — Renewable Energy Standard
- Docket 3659: Negotiated Rulemaking to Promulgate Rules and Regulations to Implement a Renewable Energy Standard
- Docket 4041: National Grid's proposed Standard Offer Portfolio Procurement Plan for 2010 and Renewable Energy Supply (RES) Procurement Plan for 2010
- Docket 4050: Commission's Review into the Adequacy of Renewable Energy Supplies (to meet 2011 targets)
Backup Rate Exemption
This information was last updated on 7/28/2009. Under a settlement with Narragansett Electric Company, customers installing renewable energy generators are exempted from Narragansett's backup rates, up to a cumulative 3 MW of capacity. For more information, see the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission report and order, docket number 3617 (PDF 3.1 MB).
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Incentives
Some of the available incentives for projects include tax incentives, public benefits fund supported grants and loans, and net metering. Net metering requires electric utilities to permit customers to reduce their electric bills by generating their own power using small-scale renewable energy systems. The excess power they generate can be fed back to their utilities, actually running their electric meters backwards.
Renewable Energy Fund
This information was last updated on 7/30/2009. In November 2008, the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (EDC) re-established the Renewable Energy Fund with new management and new directives. While the EDC is in the process of acting on outstanding Office of Energy Resources commitments, it has been accepting funding applications for all four of their renewable energy related initiatives. The four renewable energy financing initiative areas include:
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Cap = $200K per year and per project
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Cap = $1Million per year, and $500K per project
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Cap = $750K per project
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Cap = $250K per year, in aggregate
The Renewable Energy Fund receives approximately $2.4 Million per year from a non-bypassable charge on all Rhode Island ratepayer bills. Under the new rules, the Director has the authority to approve grants and loans up to $50K, with larger disbursements requiring approval by the board of directors. The fund currently has a balance of $4.1 Million, of which $3.2 Million has been committed to aid in the development of the Ocean Special Area Management Plan. The Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation is now accepting applications for funding in all categories.
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This information was last updated on 10/1/2009. Net metering is available to customers of investor-owned utilities for renewable energy systems. The limitations are as follows: 3.5 MW for municipalities and Narragansett Bay Commission, 2.25 MW for certain systems serving municipalities (developed but not owned by cities and towns, sited on land owned by the city or town, and providing power solely to the city or town), and 1.65 MW for all other systems. The aggregate limit on net metering is 2% of peak load, with a minimum of 1 MW reserved for projects with a capacity less than 25 kW. Additional detail can be found in the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission's Final Report and Order on Net Metering (PDF 1.0 MB) Download Adobe Reader.
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Siting
Special Area Management Plan
This information was last updated on 7/30/2009. In the summer of 2008, funding was approved for the development of a Special Area Management Plan covering the offshore waters of Rhode Island. Under the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act, preparation of a Special Area Management Plan will expedite an offshore energy development process because it enables permitting of projects within the area covered by the Special Area Management Plan to proceed on the basis of an Environmental Assessment in lieu of an Environmental Impact Statement.
The Special Area Management Plan is being executed by a joint partnership between the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) and the University of Rhode Island. The University of Rhode Island's role is to provide data to the CRMC. CRMC will use the University of Rhode Island's data to execute the Special Area Management Plan's regulatory framework. The Special Area Management Plan process is expected to be completed by 2010.
More Information
- Additional University of Rhode Island Special Area Management Plan information.
- Offshore Wind Power in Rhode Island (PDF 368 KB) A presentation by Andrew Dzykewicz, Commissioner, Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources, at the Northeast Energy and Commerce Assocation Conference, March 5, 2009.
- Rhode Island Ocean Special Area Management Plan (PDF 16.2 MB) A presentation by Grover Fugate, Executive Director, Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council at the Environmental Business Council of New England 2009 Offshore Wind Energy Seminar.
- Rhode Island Joint Development Agreement (PDF 3.6 MB) A presentation by Chris Wissemann, CEO, Deepwater Wind at the Environmental Business Council of New England 2009 Offshore Wind Energy Seminar.
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Transmission, Interconnection, and System Integration
Interconnection Standards
This information was last updated on 7/7/2005. Narragansett Electric, which serves 99% of the state's non-island customers, has developed a streamlined one-page interconnection application and agreement form for net-metered systems. For more information, see Narragansett's Interconnection Requirements (PDF 533 KB) Download Adobe Reader.
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Other Initiatives
Rhode Island Energy Independence
This information was last updated on 7/30/2009. Rhode Island Governor Carcieri announced in January 2006 an initiative, called RIWINDS, but later renamed to Rhode Island Energy Independence, to supply 15% of the state's total electricity demand with wind power. The state funded a study to determine the feasibility of installing as much as 450 nameplate MW of wind power. For more information, read the Rhode Island Winds Phase I: Wind Energy Siting Study.
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Buying Wind Energy
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This information was last updated on 8/4/2011. A renewable energy program offered by Narragansett Electric Company. Through this program, Narragansett Electric's customers can select from several green power offerings and suppliers, all of which include some fraction of wind power.
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List of Installers and Vendors
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Click on the link to read more about the wind resources in Rhode Island. Back to Top
Read more information about events happening in the New England region.
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Total of 16 records found.
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Date   |
State |
Type of Information |
Program Area |
Title |
More Details |
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RI |
Web Resource
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Rhode Island Incentives and Policies for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE Database) |
...more |
| 3/12/2007 |
RI |
News
|
Small Wind
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Tower begins measuring Tiverton for wind power |
...more |
|
RI |
Web Resource
|
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Portsmouth, Rhode Island Wind Power |
...more |
| 8/31/2007 |
RI |
Interview
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New England Interview: Andrew Dzykewicz, Commissioner, Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources |
...more |
| 4/30/2007 |
RI |
Publication
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Wind Energy Siting Study |
...more |
| 2/28/2008 |
RI |
Publication
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Rhode Island Offshore Wind Stakeholders Final Report |
...more |
| 10/22/2012 |
RI |
News
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Hodges Badge Company Wind Project Case Study |
...more |
|
RI |
Publication
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Small Wind
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Small Wind Electric Systems: A Rhode Island Consumer's Guide |
...more |
|
RI |
News
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Wind Turbine Owners Rebuild after Hurricane Bob |
...more |
|
RI |
Web Resource
|
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Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund |
...more |
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