Business & Tech

Governor Flips Switch on Powerful Solar Generator

New England's strongest rooftop solar array will be able to power more than 500 homes a year.

New England's most powerful solar rooftop array is now officially online. Gov. Lincoln Chafee flipped the switch Wednesday, turning on the 8,500 solar panels on top of several former Navy buildings in Quonset Business Park in North Kingstown.

Developed and built by Nexamp, Inc. (a solar independent power producer), the array is the size of three and a half football fields and will generate close to 3 million kilo-watt hours per year. 

“This is a great day for Quonset, for the environment, and for Rhode Island – and I am thrilled to be here to officially help ‘flip the switch’ on this worthwhile effort,” Chafee said at the event. “Perhaps most importantly – this project shows how our legislature and Rhode Island can work to support domestic renewable energies, reduce environmental impacts, diversify state energy sources, and stimulate economic activity all at once.”

The new solar array sits atop two rooftops in the West Davisville portion of the business park, covering more than 400,000 square feet of industrial building space. The owners of the two buildings, Michael and Steven DiCenso, lease the rooftop space to the owner of the solar project, True Green Capital, who then sells the energy produced to National Grid.   

The project has the capability to power more than 500 homes in a year, and throughout its lifespan, will produce enough clean energy to offset more than 60,000 tons of greenhouse gases.

“As a New England business, Nexamp is pleased to have partnered with Rhode Island leaders on the West Davisville solar project, and the company is proud to be generating jobs here while contributing towards the state’s goals for cleaner, more affordable, renewable energy,” said Zaid Ashai, CEO of Nexamp. “We will showcase Quonset as a landmark example of Nexamp’s innovative energy solutions for institutions, businesses and property owners across the region.”


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