RHODE
Solar in Rhode Island
Rhode Island has about 202 sun-filled days each year, with roughly 79% of all rooftops viable for solar energy.* Although the Ocean State seems to be moving slowly, it is making waves with its Renewable Portfolio Standards. Beginning in 2019, these standards mandated that at least 16% of the state’s energy be solar-powered. The target increases incrementally each year, with a goal of achieving 100 percent renewable energy by 2030.*
Solar potential in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a great potential for solar energy. The state receives an average of 4.7 hours of sunlight per day, which is above the national average of 3.8 hours of sunlight per day. This means that Rhode Island has a good potential for solar energy generation.
Rhode Island has ranked in the bottom half of all states that use clean energy. By 2021, this small state had moved down to 29th place, with 29 solar companies creating 6.59% of the state’s electricity, serving a total of 73,698 houses.*
Cost of solar in Rhode Island?
The cost of a home solar system can vary, even in the same state, due to a range of factors. These include the:
Angle of the roof
Quality of the solar panels
Roof type
Homeowner’s energy needs
To help you understand the price of going solar in your area, we’ve analyzed SunPower price quotes as well as quotes gathered by third-party sources for thousands of homeowners across the country.
In Rhode Island, we found that the average investment to own a 5 kW solar system ranges from $14,100 to $14,600, or in other words from $2.82 to $2.92 per watt—and that’s before considering the benefits of any available tax credits or incentives.
With utility rates in Rhode Island costing around 21% higher than the U.S. average, solar is an easy way to achieve those monthly savings on your electric bill.
The current solar power generation in Rhode Island is about 42,000 MWh each year, which is only .05% of the state’s energy needs—but it could be much greater. If all solar-viable rooftops were to go solar, power generation could increase to between 3,390 MW and 7,340 MW per year—enough electricity, possibly, to power every home in the Ocean State.
Advantages?
Reduced electricity bills: Solar panels can generate electricity for your home, which can help you reduce your electricity bills. The amount of savings you can expect will vary depending on the size of your solar system, the amount of sunlight your home receives, and your current electricity rates.
Increased home value: Solar panels can increase the value of your home. A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that homes with solar panels sell for an average of $15,000 more than homes without solar panels.
Environmental benefits: Solar panels are a clean and renewable source of energy. They do not produce any emissions, which can help to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Solar panels can also help to make Rhode Island a more sustainable state.
State incentives: Rhode Island offers a number of incentives for homeowners who install solar panels. These incentives can include tax credits, rebates, and grants.
Disadvantages?
Shade: Solar panels need direct sunlight to generate electricity. If your home is in a shady area, or things are covering your panels you may not be able to generate as much electricity with solar panels.
Weather: Some Solar panels can be damaged by hail, snow, and strong winds. However, our solar panels are designed to withstand these conditions and even extreme weather conditions like hurricanes, tornado, and blizzards.
Panels aesthetic: Our solar panels are different. They are all black, sleek, and thin. They have a more modern look. Some people find solar panels on homes unattractive and if your feel like that we also offer Ground mount installations. It’s a great option if you have open land that receives good sunlight.
Rhode Island state policies?
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The federal solar tax credit: Homeowners who purchase their system as opposed to leasing it, can get a tax credit of up to 26% of the total cost of the solar installation.*
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Renewable Energy Growth (REG) Program: The National Grid, a utility company serving New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, compensates solar array owners between 29.8 to 41.35 cents per kWh for each kWh that their system generates for 15 or 20 years.* This feed-in-tariff program replaces net metering for those solar panel owners who participate.
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CommerceRI’s Renewable Energy Fund (REF): If a homeowner needs financial assistance to go solar, this fund supplies grants and loans for Small Scale Solar projects. CommerceRI uses the funds that retail electricity providers receive from the “system benefit charge” on electric bills and alternative compliance payments to fund these renewable energy projects.*
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Net Metering: This is a program where utility companies compensate solar system owners for the excess solar power their system generates and sends back to the grid. According to the RI Office of Energy Resources, both Net Metering and Virtual Net Metering are available in the state, depending upon whether the system is located onsite (on the customer’s property).*
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Property Tax Exemption: The 2016 H.B. 8354 exempts your residential renewable energy system from property taxes throughout the state.*
Maintaining solar panels?
Solar panels are relatively low-maintenance. However, you should have them cleaned every few years to remove dirt, dust, and debris. You can clean your solar panels yourself, or you can hire a professional to do it for you.
What's the best way to go solar?
Are you interested in going solar in Rhode Island? If so, we can help!
Before going solar, be sure to keep in mind factors that will affect the output of clean energy to your home. For instance, South-facing roofs generate the most energy, followed by west-facing roofs. North-facing roofs generate the least amount of energy. We look into multiple aspects to make sure you have the most effective setup such as roof orientation, roof pitch, shade, and weather.
We offer a free virtual consultation and savings report to help you determine if solar is right for you. We will also help you access solar incentives and rebates to reduce the cost of installation.
Freedom Forever solar panels system is Top-Tier and backed by a 25-year full system production guarantee. We also offer a satisfaction guarantee, so you can be sure that you are making the right decision and test it out stress free.
If you are interested in learning more about solar power in Rhode Island, please contact us today for a free virtual consultation.
We look forward to helping you make the switch to solar!