Acadia Center releases study showing value of solar in R.I.

ACADIA CENTER has released a study showing the societal benefits of solar projects in Rhode Island. This graphic shows the net social cost of carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).The net environmental benefit of 6.7 cents per kilowatt hour is the value of avoiding the average marginal kilowatt-hour of electricity. / COURTESY ACADIA CENTER
ACADIA CENTER has released a study showing the societal benefits of solar projects in Rhode Island. This graphic shows the net social cost of carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).The net environmental benefit of 6.7 cents per kilowatt hour is the value of avoiding the average marginal kilowatt-hour of electricity. / COURTESY ACADIA CENTER

PROVIDENCE – The Acadia Center has released a study showing the value of solar projects in Rhode Island.
Acadia Center said it assessed the grid and “societal value” of six solar photovoltaic systems to understand the value that they provide to the grid.
It found that the value of solar to the grid – and ratepayers connected to the grid – ranges from savings of 19 to 25 cents per kilowatt hour, with additional societal values of 7 cents per kilowatt hour.

“Solar generation is a valuable local energy resource that provides significant benefits to ratepayers,” Abigail Anthony, director of Acadia Center’s Grid Modernization Initiative and Rhode Island Office, said.
Solar PV, according to Acadia, provides “unique value” to the electric grid by reducing energy demand, providing power during peak periods and avoiding generation and related emissions charges from conventional power plants. The overall grid value of solar is the sum total of these different benefits, according to a news release from the center.

Acadia Center’s study also found that solar PV provides “broader societal benefits, including environmental gains from reduced or avoided greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.”
“Societal benefits should be included when assessing the overall costs and benefits of solar PV and determining additional incentives,” Leslie Malone, Acadia Center senior analyst and an author of the report, said in a statement.

Under the Renewable Energy Growth Program, launched last month, National Grid will purchase electricity from eligible distributed generation projects in Rhode Island through a long-term contract at a guaranteed fixed price. Applicants with small-scale solar projects are invited to apply.

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