PROVIDENCE – Four Rhode Island farms received a combined $67,237 to install solar arrays, the R.I. Department of Environmental management announced Tuesday.
The grants, made in conjunction with the R.I. Office of Energy Resources and the R.I. Resource Conservation and Development Area Council, supported farmers who are making efforts to “green” their operation in the Ocean State by installing solar power generation and adopting energy efficiency operations.
The money for the grants were awarded through the R.I. Farm Energy Program, which is funded through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
The funded projects are:
- Pat’s Pastured, East Greenwich: $20,000 to install a ground-mount solar array for its livestock farming operation
- Windmist Farm, Jamestown: $20,000 to install a roof-mount solar array to offset its energy use for its livestock farming operation
- Paris St. Pierre, Little Compton: $19,237.20 to install a roof-mount solar array to offset the equestrian operation’s energy use
- Barrington Farm School, Barrington: $8,000 to install a ground-mount solar array to power irrigation pumps and to provide electricity to a farm stand
“These awards will reduce energy costs and bring clean, reliable and affordable renewable energy to Rhode Island farms,” stated DEM Director Janet L. Coit. “Making continued investments in our green economy benefits our state, our environment and our families. We congratulate our grant recipients and all partners involved in this effort.”
