PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER) announced that, beginning January 1, 2018, municipalities, businesses and individuals will benefit from a uniform, statewide solar permit application, which streamlines the building and electric permit processes for solar installations.
The application – which will be a requirement for all scales of solar development, from residential to industrial-scale projects – will continue the State's efforts to reduce the soft costs of solar development and progress toward Rhode Island's clean energy goals. In March, Governor Gina Raimondo announced a goal to increase Rhode Island's clean energy output to 1,000MW by 2020, and reach 20,000 clean energy jobs in the process.
"This statewide solar permit application is an example of Rhode Island's commitment to providing a predictable business environment for the rapidly growing clean energy industry," said Carol Grant, Commissioner of the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources. "This application ensures a uniform building and electrical permitting process for solar projects proposed anywhere in the State. OER would like to acknowledge the bill's sponsors, state Rep. Lauren H. Carson, Sen. Erin Lynch Prata and their colleagues in the General Assembly for advancing the enabling legislation this past session."
"This new permitting initiative will go a long way toward providing clean energy businesses the predictability they need to effectively expand their businesses and solar in Rhode Island. We commend the Raimondo Administration for driving the swift implementation of this innovative, nation-leading program," said Northeast Clean Energy Council Executive Vice President Janet Besser.
OER worked in collaboration with an array of stakeholders, including the Rhode Island Building Code Commission, Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, building and electrical trade groups, solar businesses, and local building and electric officials.
John Marcantonio, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Builders Association, added: "It's great to see another successful effort to streamline a permitting process. These new rules should help alleviate confusion and create a consistent, reliable process."
To download the application, visit http://www.energy.ri.gov/renewable-energy/solar/.