Quonset, RI – Governor Lincoln D. Chafee visited Quonset Business Park today to celebrate the completion of New England's most powerful solar rooftop array. The size of three and a half football fields, the array encompasses more than 8,500 solar panels and will produce close to 3 million kilowatt-hours of power per year. Developed and built by Nexamp, Inc, a solar independent power producer, the initiative was made possible through several renewable energy laws passed by the Rhode Island General Assembly in 2011.
"This is a great day for Quonset, for the environment, and for Rhode Island – and I am thrilled to be here to officially help 'flip the switch' on this worthwhile effort," Governor Chafee said at the event. "Perhaps most importantly – this project shows how our legislature and Rhode Island can work to support domestic renewable energies, reduce environmental impacts, diversify state energy sources, and stimulate economic activity all at once."
Quonset Business Park continues to be a key driver of job creation and economic growth in Rhode Island. It is now home to more than 175 companies, with 9,500 full-time and part-time jobs, and its Port of Davisville is one of the Top Ten auto-importers in North America. The solar rooftop is one of several renewable energy initiatives taking place at the Business Park, including one of the largest solar land arrays in the state, a major co-generation energy system being built by Toray Plastics, and the pending arrival of Deepwater Wind - a company spearheading two off-shore wind projects that will utilize Quonset as their main facility for constructing and staging the turbines.
"As a New England business, Nexamp is pleased to have partnered with Rhode Island leaders on the West Davisville solar project, and the company is proud to be generating jobs here while contributing towards the state's goals for cleaner, more affordable, renewable energy," said Zaid Ashai, CEO of Nexamp. "We will showcase Quonset as a landmark example of Nexamp's innovative energy solutions for institutions, businesses and property owners across the region."
The new solar array sits atop two rooftops in the West Davisville portion of the Business Park, covering more than 400,000 square feet of industrial building space. The owners of the two buildings, Michael and Steven DiCenso, lease the rooftop space to the owner of the solar project, True Green Capital, who then sells the energy produced to National Grid. The project has the capability to power more than 500 homes in a year, and throughout its lifespan, will produce enough clean energy to offset over 60,000 tons of greenhouse gases.
The project was made possible because of renewable energy legislation passed in 2011 by the General Assembly. Those measures included, among others, the Distributed Generation Standard Contracts program. Thanks to this groundbreaking renewable energy program, overseen by the Rhode Island Department of Administration's Office of Energy Resources, Nexamp and True Green Capital were able to make West Davisville Solar a renewable energy success story for the state.
"This is another terrific example of the innovation and growth we're seeing everyday at Quonset Business Park," said Steven J. King, PE, managing director of the Quonset Development Corporation. "The QDC and its board approved this project as it was a unique way to utilize existing rooftop space, did a good thing for the environment and brought additional construction jobs to the state of Rhode Island. Like 175 other companies at the Park, we believe Nexamp saw Quonset as a place to succeed and we are grateful they did."
About Nexamp, Inc: As a leading solar independent power producer, Nexamp develops, builds, owns, and operates distributed and utility - scale solar projects. Nexamp delivers integrated solutions – from project development and financing through construction and asset management – to ensure that its clients and partners maximize the value of their solar energy investments.
About Quonset Development Corporation: The Quonset Development Corporation (QDC) is a real estate development and property management company. Formed in 2005 it is responsible for the development and management of the 3,207 acre Quonset Business Park®. Quonset Business Park is the home to 175 companies, 9,500 full and part-time jobs, and the Port of Davisville is one of the Top Ten auto-importers in North America.