NORTH SMITHFIELD – The state’s largest community solar farm has reached mechanical completion and will be fully operational in July, according to a release this week from Nautilus Solar Energy LLC and TurningPoint Energy.
The 12.44 megawatt array known as the King community solar project is located off Pound Hill Road, on land with limited uses due to its proximity to a Landfill & Resource Recovery, Inc superfund site. That site is currently undergoing long-term remediation under oversight of the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
The project, which broke ground in November of 2019, was originally developed by TurningPoint, and DEPCOM Power oversaw a construction process that reportedly involved more than 100 local electricians.
New Jersey-based Nautilus owns and operates the new system – comprised of two arrays of panels covering roughly 70 acres.
More than 3,000 local residents have signed on to secure energy savings under a Community Net Metering Pilot Program, according to a release this week. The program aims to create temporary jobs in the solar industry and ultimately lower energy costs for Rhode Island residents with direct savings through credits with National Grid.
“The community solar pilot program in Rhode Island presents a unique opportunity for residential customers to participate in the clean energy economy and directly save money on their utility bills,” said Jim Rice, co-CEO and co-founder of Nautilus Solar.
The arrays collectively represent the largest community solar project in Rhode Island.
“We are hopeful that the legislature and new administration continue to build on this momentum by expanding the pilot program to allow for more projects like King to be developed in the State,” said Nautilus President Jeffrey Cheng.
There are still limited spots available for interested National Grid Rhode Island residents. To learn more visit https://nautilussolar.com/community-solar-access/
