Nautilus Solar Energy, a national solar acquisition, development and asset management company, announced the opening of Rhode Island’s first operational community solar project under the state’s Community Remote Net Metering Pilot Program.
Located in Burrillville, RI, the 3.307-MW community solar garden will provide residents across the state access to solar power without the need to install solar panels on their roof.
“Today, we are celebrating the launch of the first community solar project in Rhode Island, which makes affordable solar power accessible to more people,” said Carol Grant, state energy commissioner. “The state’s community solar program allows most Rhode Islanders, who want to reduce their carbon emissions but who cannot install solar panels on their own homes, to purchase solar power at a rate lower than what they are paying now for standard offer service. This is the first of several projects expected to come online in the months ahead, giving National Grid customers more options to switch to clean energy.”
Using its full-service platform, Nautilus Solar is responsible for the project management, long-term asset management and maintenance services for the projects. Engineered by ConEd Solutions, the project was fully developed by ISM Solar Development, of East Providence, Rhode Island, a leading and innovative national solar developer, and is 100% subscribed with over 700 residential customers through Acadia Power.
“It is exciting to be a part of this first step for community solar in Rhode Island and to continue the great work of ISM Solar,” said Jim Rice, CEO of Nautilus Solar. “These projects symbolize Nautilus’s commitment to provide easy access to community solar for customers across Rhode Island.”
Officially opened in August 2019, the community garden incorporates ground-mounted fixed-tilt installations. The system will produce 145 GWh over 35 years. The energy generated by the project will directly benefit qualified residential off-takers situated within regional utility National Grid’s service territory by providing energy cost savings while also advancing Rhode Island’s overall renewable energy goals.
“Our team is excited to bring this historic project online for the state of Rhode Island,” said Greg Lucini, CEO of ISM Solar Development. “Thanks to the hard work of so many we are able to celebrate a solar energy success that will benefit our entire community.”
Anyone in Rhode Island can enroll in the new project by creating an Arcadia Power account www.arcadiapower.com/community-solar/rhode-island/.
“The goal of community solar has always been to make it possible for anyone to access clean energy savings, but the user experience has traditionally been anything but seamless,” said Kiran Bhatraju, CEO of Arcadia Power. “We’re thrilled to be celebrating the completion of this project by ISM Solar and Nautilus, and to be providing hassle-free community solar to Arcadia Power members in Rhode Island.”
The Rhode Island Community Remote Net Metering Pilot Program, created in 2016, focuses on providing renewable energy benefits and reducing costs for its residential customers.
While the Burrillville site is the first to go live, Nautilus currently manages a portfolio of projects in Rhode Island, representing 22.20 MW of community solar capacity. The 6.68-MW Hopkins Hill project in West Greenwich is fully developed and expected to be operational by early Q1 2020; the 12.42-MW King project in North Smithfield is expected to be operational by the end of 2020, and the 3.1-MW Beacon project in Cranston is expected to be operational Q3 2020. Arcadia Power is now enrolling customers for all three projects.
News item from Nautilus Solar Energy
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