NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER 2018
Governor Raimondo, Congressional Delegation unveil RIPTA's first electric buses
Governor Gina Raimondo was joined by federal and state officials on October 22nd as she got a first-hand look at the state's first zero-emission electric buses. The three buses, which are being leased by the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA), with the support of the Governor, the state Department of Environmental Management, the Office of Energy Resources and other partner state agencies, mark the beginning of an air quality improvement plan for Rhode Island. This investment was made possible by approximately $14.4 million in Volkswagen settlement funds. The plan includes the leasing and purchase of electric buses and the installation of charging infrastructure in the state for private electric vehicles.
Burrillville schools to receive $146,000 for LED lighting upgrade project
The Burrillville School Department will receive $146,000 in state and utility grants to replace old incandescent bulbs and lighting fixtures with more energy efficient LEDs in three school buildings.

The lighting project is made possible thanks to a combination of grants which include $100,000 in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative proceeds from the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources, and $46,000 from the Pascoag Utility District. The three schools receiving these lighting upgrades are William L. Callahan (grades 2-5), Steere Farm (grades 2-5) and Austin T. Levy (grades pre-K, K and 1). The project is expected to reduce operating and maintenance expenses for the schools while enhancing the quality of light for students and staff.
State and municipal leaders celebrate North Providence solar array
Governor Gina Raimondo, North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, business leaders and elected officials joined Southern Sky Renewable Energy RI on October 17 to mark the completion of a 2.6 MW solar array on Smithfield Road in North Providence. The former municipal landfill site is now producing clean energy for the town, offsetting its energy costs. In addition to energy savings, the town will receive rent payments for the use of the land and tax payments for real and tangible property. The town will receive a financial benefit of $5.1 million over the life of the project.

“Renewable energy is the future of energy in Rhode Island, and this new solar array is a perfect example of our progress,” said Governor Raimondo. “The incredible transformation of this former landfill into a clean energy-producing solar array is not only good for the planet, but for our economy as well. We’re making it easier for businesses and homeowners alike to invest in solar and are now offering financial incentives to convert brownfields into renewable energy projects. Thanks to our efforts, I’m confident there will be many ribbon cuttings like this one in the years to come.”  
Rocky Hill School "Hackathon" focuses on energy
On October 26-27, Rocky Hill School hosted the first statewide high school "Hack for Social Good" aimed at tackling the United Nations Global Grand Challenge: Energy.

A “social good hackathon” is an event in which people use their collective talents to brainstorm and create a new solution to an existing issue. The event, Hack the Power: Reduce | Reuse | Renew, brought together students from seven schools, more than a dozen towns and Toronto, Canada, to consider new ways to address energy consumption and waste.

Carrie Gill of the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (pictured above left) mentored students, bringing them up to speed with state energy policies, educating them about current solutions and challenges, and coaching them on how to pitch their ideas effectively.

The event featured an agenda packed with distinguished speakers including Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Congressman Jim Langevin, among other elected officials, environmentalists and energy policy experts.
National Grid releases annual energy efficiency plan for 2019
National Grid filed its Annual Energy Efficiency Plan for 2019 with the Public Utilities Commission this month, outlining a suite of services to provide all customers with the tools to help them control their energy usage and lower their bills. The PUC will be reviewing and ruling on the plan before the end of the year.

The energy saving commitments in the plan will not only lower costs, but also help to displace fossil fuel-based electricity generation and reduce the need for more distribution infrastructure, such as poles, wires and substations.

The plan will help bolster the local clean energy economy by creating jobs and will avoid 1.1 million tons of carbon from being released into the atmosphere, which is equivalent to removing 216,118 passenger vehicles from the road for one year.
Solarize Narragansett enters homestretch
The Solarize Narragansett program's November 2nd sign-up deadline is quickly approaching. Currently, more than 100 residents have signed up to install solar on their homes or businesses. The program has reached Tier 2, which means that each participant will receive a discount on their installation.

Residents can still sign up for a free solar assessment for their home or business by going to the Solarize Narragansett website https://solarizenarragansett.wee.green or by stopping by Sunwatt’s office, located in Mariner’s Square, below the RE/MAX office. Drop-in hours are from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. weekdays.

Solarize Rhode Island is a community-based outreach campaign that provides residents and small businesses the opportunity to become more energy independent and have more control over their electricity bills. The unique tiered pricing structure unlocks increased savings as more solar contracts in the community are signed.
Energy Profile: Helping Hands Community Partners completes major energy efficiency project
Helping Hands Community Partners, a Providence-based nonprofit organization, actively works with government agencies and banks to acquire distressed properties. Using local labor, Helping Hands rehabilitates those properties so they can be sold at below-market prices to underserved populations including veterans, seniors, and low-to-moderate income families.

When the nonprofit acquired its present Elmwood Avenue headquarters, the 100-year-old property was in dire need of an update. The building had no air conditioning, very poor insulation, out-of-date wiring, and utilized three different heating systems. The building was virtually unusable during the hottest days of summer and coldest days of winter.

With the help of Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank's C-PACE program, Helping Hands underwent a major energy efficiency project to bring its building into the 21st century. Read the rest of the story here.
UPCOMING EVENTS & MEETINGS
November 3
11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m.
900 Smithfield Road, North Providence, RI
November 5
5:30 p.m.
Town Hall, 5 Richmond Townhouse Road, 2nd Floor Conference Room, Wyoming, RI
November 7
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
(Pre-registration required)
Laurel Lane Country Club, 309 Laurel Lane, West Kingston, RI
November 8
8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
National Grid Lincoln Office, 642 George Washington Highway, Lincoln, RI
November 8 & 9
(two events)
Hosted by SustainPVD
Roger Williams University School of Law, One Empire Street, Providence, RI
November 15
3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Department of Administration, One Capitol Hill, 2nd Floor, Conference Room A, Providence, RI
December 13
3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Department of Administration, One Capitol Hill, 2nd Floor, Conference Room A, Providence, RI
*Events are subject to change. Always check the event website for updated times, dates and location details before you attend.

Would you like to add your energy-related event to our calendar? Send the details and event URL to our editor at robert.beadle@energy.ri.gov .