| State: |
Rhode Island |
| Incentive Type: |
Performance-Based Incentive |
| Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: |
Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Ocean Thermal, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels |
| Applicable Sectors: |
Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Multi-Family Residential, Agricultural, Institutional |
| Amount: | 2013 Ceiling Rates
PV (50-100 kW): 29.95 cents/kWh
PV (101-250 kW): 28.80 cents/kWh
PV (251-499 kW): 28.40 cents/kWh
PV (501-5,000 kW): 24.95 cents/kWh
Wind (50-100 kW): 24.65 cents/kWh
Wind (200-999 kW): 16.20 cents/kWh
Wind (1,000-1,500 kW): 14.80 cents/kWh
Anaerobic Digestion (400-5,000 kW): 18.55 cents/kWh |
| Terms: | 15-year standard contract with fixed payment rate |
| Eligible System Size: | Varies by enrollment period; maximum statutory system size is 5 MW |
| Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits: | Projects must register with NEPOOL-GIS and designate National Grid to receive all RECs |
| Start Date: | 2011 |
| Expiration Date: | 12/30/2014 |
| Web Site: |
https://www.nationalgridus.com/narragansett/business/energyeff/4_...
|
Authority 1:
Date Enacted:
Date Effective:
|
R.I. Gen. Laws ยง 39-26.2-1 et seq.
6/29/2011
6/29/2011
|
Note: The first enrollment period for standard contracts in 2013 closed March 15. The second enrollment period is scheduled to begin in June. The third is scheduled to begin in September.
Rhode Island enacted legislation (H.B. 6104) in June 2011 establishing a feed-in tariff for new distributed renewable energy generators up to five megawatts (MW) in capacity. The law requires electric distribution companies to enter into standard contracts for an aggregate capacity of at least 40 MW by the end of 2014. Standard contracts include a fixed payment rate and a 15-year term, and generally vary by generator capacity and type.
Eligible renewables include solar energy, wind energy, ocean-thermal energy, geothermal energy, small hydropower, biomass facilities that maintain compliance with current air permits,* and fuel cells using renewable resources. Separate classes have been established for “large” generators and “small” generators. Small generators include solar energy systems up to 500 kilowatts (kW) and wind energy systems up to 1.5 MW. The Distributed Generation Standard Contract Board will determine capacity limits for other “small” systems, but limits may not exceed 1 MW. (The Board is authorized to modify this program in several ways, as specified in the authorizing legislation.) Payment rates vary by system size and type.
The contracting period is spread over four years. The following annual minimum targets for standard contracts have been established:
- By December 30, 2011: 5 MW of aggregate capacity
- By December 30, 2012: 20 MW of aggregate capacity
- By December 30, 2013: 30 MW of aggregate capacity
- By December 30, 2014: 40 MW of aggregate capacity
The Board must set ceiling prices by October 15 for the following calendar year. Each electric distribution company must conduct one standard contract enrollment period in 2011 and at least three enrollment periods in subsequent program years. Each enrollment period will be open for two weeks.
Eligible small projects will be awarded standard contracts on a first-come, first-served basis until the class target is met. Eligible large projects will be awarded standard contracts based on the lowest proposed prices received. Eligible systems that are net-metered may apply to sell excess output.
* Waste-to-energy combustion systems are explicitly excluded.
