On June 20, 2022, Governor Dan McKee, the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER), and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management announced $115,667 in awards through the Rhode Island Agricultural Energy Grant Program to develop solar projects on six farms in the state. The grant program awarded its first round of grants in 2016. The funding comes from proceeds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The solar projects receiving the awards will help the farms to lower energy costs and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Those locations receiving the awards to site solar projects are outlined below:
Elwood Orchard – Scituate, Award $18,027
The 7.2 kW rooftop solar project will offset 100 percent of the energy use for this homestead and apple orchard operation.
Newport Equestrian Academy – Middletown, Award $20,000
The 36 kW rooftop solar array will offset 100 percent of the energy use for this local horse farm.
Roots Farm – Tiverton, Award $20,000
The 17.2 kW ground-mounted solar array will offset 100 percent of the energy use for this diversified, certified organic vegetable farm to grow over 27 tons of vegetables.
Silk Tree Farm – Exeter, Award $17,640
The 7.2 kW ground-mounted solar array will offset 100 percent of the energy use for this livestock-growing and organic self-care product operation.
Sodco, Inc. – Slocum, Award $20,000
The 53.55 kW rooftop solar project will offset 74 percent of the energy used by this large contiguous commercial farm in RI - Founded in 1981.
The Farm in RI – Chepachet, Award $20,000
The 5.135 kW rooftop mounted solar array will offset approximately 65 percent of the energy use for this organic vegetable, egg, and flower operation.
For more information, view the press release here.