The Rhode Island Economic Development Corp. (RIEDC) has awarded the town with the first municipal grant as part of the state's Renewable Energy Fund (REF). The town was awarded a $30,000 grant in order to conduct a wind power feasibility study to determine the feasibility of erecting and operating wind turbines in that municipality.
Renewable-energy systems eligible for support from the REF include facilities in the New England Power Pool control area that generate electricity, both off-grid and on-grid, using fuel as eligible renewable energy resources pursuant to Rhode Island general law. This includes solar, wind, energy produced by movement or the latent heat of the ocean, hydro and eligible geothermal, biomass, and fuel cells. Solar-thermal systems (including solar space-heating systems) are eligible if installed on low-income housing projects certified by the RIHMFC.
Applications can be submitted for any type of facility including manufacturing facilities, office buildings, multi-unit residential properties, retail operations, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, public buildings and farms.
For an application visit www.riedc.com/business-services/renewable-energy
According to legislative statute, the REF requires annual grants for $1 million for local municipal renewable energy projects and $200,000 for affordable housing initiatives.