Rhode |
 4%  ^^%Jfc  United States
•ptj^^W^mA Environmental Protection
^t^kl *m Agency

State Incentives for Achieving Clean  and Renewable

Energy Development  on  Contaminated  Lands

The development of clean and renewable energy on formerly used land offers many economic and environmental benefits. Combining clean and renewable energy and
contaminated land cleanup incentives can allow investors and communities to create economically viable clean and renewable energy redevelopment projects. This
document provides information about incentives in your state that can be leveraged for clean and renewable energy and development of contaminated land.
                   Incentives for Clean and Renewable  Energy
Funding (grants, loans, bonds, etc.)
Municipal Renewable Energy Investment Program
www.riedc.com/files/public-notice-summary-and-proposed-rules-
renewable-energy-development-fund.pdf
Offers grants of up to $500,000 per project for municipal renewable-energy
projects (starting January 1,2009). Legislation (H.B. 7806) enacted in July
2008 authorized the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation to
integrate and coordinate state's renewable-energy policies. The program
utilizes the lesser of 50% or $1 million collected annually from the 0.3 mils
per kWh surcharge for renewable-energy programs.

Renewable Energy Fund (REF): Photovoltaic Solar Opportunity
www.energy.ri.gov/programs/renewable.php
Provides partial grants of up to $3 per watt for commercial projects and
$3.50 per watt for non-profit organizations, for the installation of solar PV
systems of up to 25 kW on commercial, industrial, and institutional
buildings.

Tax Incentives (abatements, deductions, credits, etc.)
Sales Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy
www.energy.ri.gov/programs/renewable.php
Provides an exemption from the state's sales and use taxes for certain
renewable energy systems and equipment, including solar electric
systems, geothermal heat pumps, and wind turbines and towers.

Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems -
Local Option
www.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE44/44-3/44-3-21.HTM
Allows cities and towns to exempt renewable-energy systems from
property taxation. Includes: solar water heat, solar space heat, PV, wind,
biomass, and small hydroelectric.

Technical Assistance and Other Incentives
Renewable Energy Certificate Incentive
www.massenergy.com/Solar.REC.Sale.html
Mass Energy and People's Power & Light purchases renewable energy
certificates (also known as green  tags) at a rate of $30 per MWh (or $0.03
per kWh) from photovoltaic (PV) systems in Rhode Island for three years.

RIWINDS, Rl Wind Alliance,  Rl Wind Mapper
www.energy.ri.gov/programs/renewable.php
In 2006, Rhode Island established the RIWINDS program to promote the
development of wind energy in the state. The goal is to obtain 20% of the
state's energy from renewable resources by 2011. See the RIWINDS Wind
Energy Siting Study at:
www.energy.ri.gov/documents/independence1/RIWINDSReport.pdf.
                                                              Net Metering
                                                              www.energy.ri.gov/policy/index.php
                                                              Offers net metering to customers who use solar or wind resources. The
                                                              maximum individual system capacity is 3.5 MW for systems owned by
                                                              cities, towns or the Narragansett Bay Commission; 2.25 MW for systems
                                                              developed but not owned by cities and towns, sited on land owned by the
                                                              city or town, and providing power solely to the city or town; and 1.65 MW
                                                              for other customers.
                                                                                       Quick Facts
                                                                Public Benefit Fund (PBF)
                                                                Renewable Portfolio Standard
                                                                   16% by 2020
                                                                Net Metering
                                                                Interconnection Standards
Yes 0 No D
Yes 0 No D
Yes 0 No D
YesD No0
                                                                            Electric Power Industry Generation by
                                                                             Primary Energy Source (EIA, 2006)
                                                                   Petroleum-Fired      0.5%    Nuclear
                                                                   Natural Gas-Fired   96.9%    Hydroelectric
                                                                   Coal-Fired            -       Other Renewables
     0.1%
     2.5%
                                                                                     Points of Contact
                                                                Municipal Renewable Energy Investment Program, REF: Photovoltaic
                                                                Solar Opportunity
                                                                Jenn Paolino, jpaolino@riedc.com (401) 278-9126
                                                                Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources, www.energy.ri.gov
                                                                Sales Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy, Property Tax Exemption
                                                                for Renewable Energy Systems - Local Option, RIWINDS, Rl Wind
                                                                Alliance, Rl Wind Mapper,
                                                                Julie Capobianco, JulieC@energy.ri.gov, (401) 574-9111
                                                                Renewable Energy Certificate Incentive
                                                                Mass Energy and People's Power & Light, www.massenergy.com
                                                                Kelly Muellman, kelly@massenergy.com, (617) 524-3950
                                                                Net Metering
                                                                Public Utilities Commission
                                                                Luly Massaro, Commission Clerk, (401) 941-4500
Information current as of November 2008; please refer to www.dsireusa.org and the state Web sites
provided, or contact the points of contact identified above for more up to date information.
                                                                          Rhode Island Incentives for Clean and Renewable Energy - Page '

-------
       ,^0
,	

[
Incentives for Development of Contaminated  Land
  Funding (grants, loans, bonds, etc.)
  Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund (RLF)
  www.riedc.com/riedc/business_services/12/60Madditional
  Provides low-interest loans from $50,000 to $200,000, at below market
  rates and a maximum loan term of five years, to remediate eligible
  brownfield sites. Public, private, or non-profit entities are eligible. Grants
  are also available for non-profit organizations or eligible public entities.

  Technical Assistance and Other Incentives	
  Targeted Brownfields Assessment (TBA) Program
  www.dem.ri.gov/brownHelds/financial/index.htmnargetted
  Provides environmental assessments of brownfield properties for public or
  non-profit organizations (that partner with a public entity) acting as
  voluntary parties and that have redevelopment plans for a brownfield site.
  Recipients will receive a Site Investigation report that will describe any
  potential environmental contamination on the property and put forth
  recommendations for the next phase of investigation, if necessary.
  Applications are selected on a competitive basis.

  Limitations on Liability	
  Department of Environmental Management - Covenant Not to
  Sue
  www.dem.ri.gov/brownfields/documents/
  Provides liability protection (in the form of a covenant not to sue) to
  property owners against contamination found on-site after cleanup and
  redevelopment—unless the contamination occurs after cleanup—under the
  Industrial Property Remediation and Reuse Program.
                                                                                              Quick Facts
                                                                     Limitations on Liability                           Yes 0 No D
                                                                     Number of State-Tracked Contaminated Properties:       1,660
                                                                     Includes current and completed Voluntary Cleanup Sites
                                                                     Number of EPA CERCLIS Sites:                           154
                                                                     Sites identified for potential investigation under the federal Superfund Program
                                                                     Number of EPA Brownfields Properties:                    304
                                                                     Properties being funded or addressed under the EPA Brownfields Program
                                                                     There may be some overlap among the categories listed and sites listed may not
                                                                     represent all potentially contaminated sites in Rhode Island.
  Information current as of November 2008; please refer to
  www.epa.gov/brownfields/pubs/st_res_prog_report.htm and the state Web sites provided,
  or contact the points of contact identified above for more up to date information.
                                                                                            Points of Contact
                                                                      Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC)
                                                                      www.riedc.com
                                                                      Brownfields Cleanup RLF
                                                                      William J. Parsons, wparsons@riedc.com, (401) 278-9100 Ext. 130
                                                                      Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
                                                                      www.dem.ri.gov/brownfields
                                                                      TBA Program
                                                                      Cynthia Gianfrancesco, cynthia.gianfrancesco@dem.ri.gov,
                                                                      (401) 222-2797 Ext. 7126
                                                                      Covenant Not to Sue
                                                                      Kelly Owens, Kelly.owens@dem.ri.gov, (401) 222-2797 Ext. 7108
                                                      Rhode Island Incentives for Development of Contaminated Land - Page 2

-------