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 ------- |