Little Compton and Tiverton Join Statewide Solar Energy Campaign

Little Compton and Tiverton are joining a statewide program to reduce solar panel costs.

The marketing program Solarize is designed to inform the community about solar energy, reduce solar costs and make it a profitable decision for homes and businesses.

North Smithfield became the first Rhode Island community on Friday to launch the residential solar energy campaign and Little Compton and Tiverton are following the town’s lead in November, Eco RI reported.

Solarize reduces installation costs by about 20 percent and provides local tax breaks, according to Eco RI.

Commerce RI, Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources and the nonprofit Smartpower partnered together to create the campaign.

“Through this partnership, we’ll be able to work with municipalities to offer solar installations at lower costs, while helping to expand the renewable energy sector as a growing source of jobs and economic activity in Rhode Island,” said Marcel A. Valois, executive director of Commerce RI in a press release.

The more people who adopt solar energy will lead to more available resources to support renewable energy projects in Rhode Island, Valois said.

Commerce RI manages the Renewable Energy Fund, which offers grants and loans for solar power and other renewable energy projects.

Solar panels are low maintenance and pay for themselves in seven to eight years, according to Eco RI.

Dr. Marion Gold, Commissioner of the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources said the Solarize program will help homes and businesses “protect themselves against rising electricity rates, while protecting the environment.”

Communities in other states like Massachusetts and Connecticut have participated in the Solarize campaign. The program doubled Connecticut’s amount of solar capacity, Eco RI reported.

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