RIPTA cuts costs with renewable energy solar farm collaboration

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) is collaborating with the City of East Providence and Kearsarge Energy on a solar installation project along the city’s waterfront.  RIPTA will receive credit from the power generated by the solar installation, which will save an estimated $250,000 annually in energy costs, while the clean energy produced from the site will save approximately 62,000 tons of carbon emissions over the next 25 years. 

Kearsarge Energy completed construction of the nine acre, 6,000 panel solar installation in December of 2020.   Located on the site of the former Dexter Road Tank Farm in East Providence, the solar installation will generate new tax revenue for the city.  The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources assisted RIPTA in creating a net energy proposal beneficial to all parties.  

“This project is a win on many levels,” said Scott Avedisian, RIPTA’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are saving money, we are using sustainable clean energy, and we are tapping into a solar farm that brought new life to waterfront property that needed remediation. As we move toward adding more zero-emission electric buses, we know that they will need charging infrastructure and that finding economical and eco-friendly energy sources is of increasing importance.”

Through the public-private partnership Kearsarge Energy was able to lease formerly underutilized land to build a clean energy resource that will provide clean energy credits for RIPTA and tax revenue for the next 20 years to the city.  The project went from conception to reality in under a year due to the East Providence Waterfront Commission’s streamlined review process and cooperation by all involved.  

“Projects that utilize zero-emission, sustainable energy are a priority in our state, as is our commitment to cleaner air quality,” said Governor Daniel McKee.  “This collaborative effort helps us move toward our goals and benefits taxpayers in the process.”

“RIPTA continues to lead by example with this latest zero-emission energy project. OER applauds its commitment to cleaner energy sources, particularly as Rhode Island works to reduce its economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions and support local jobs and investment,” said State Energy Commissioner Nicholas Ucci.