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SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — The South Kingstown Town Council has locked in its decision to prioritize a way to save money and be sustainable on the new high school project.
Last week, the council approved a purchase of the first round of materials for a solar rooftop installation totaling $81,000. While the entire project is expected to cost much more, the council strategically bought just over five percent of the projected cost.
This is a strategy known as safe harboring, which is meant to prove ahead of time that the solar panel project is really happening. That positions the town to be eligible for both state and federal incentives when the time comes to receive them. The total cost is expected to be about $1.5 million, but that price could go down to $1 million if the maximum incentives are secured.
Project officials recommended this move at the last meeting in part due to the potential savings. Most of today’s solar panels last about 25 years, while the project would take about 10 years to pay for itself. That potential 15 years in between could add up to significant energy savings in the future.
The vendor that South Kingstown chose for their initial purchase is Newport Renewables, a business that is headquartered on Columbia Street just down the street from the high school.
According to their website, the company has operated since 2010 and specializes in commercial solar installations, utility-scale solar projects, municipal and institutional solar systems, and custom high-performance homes. While the company started in Newport, Wakefield is its current home.
The company describes itself as a “full-service, turnkey provider,” meaning it handles projects from planning and design through construction and long-term maintenance rather than subcontracting large portions of the work.
Some of the notable projects that the company has completed include an installation at the Belcourt mansion in Newport, a two-acre rooftop installation for NATCO Manufacturing, and a few rooftop installations on some of the state capitol’s complex buildings.
One of the most relevant aspects for South Kingstown is that the company has this experience with government clients, meaning they also have prior experience working within public procurement and government construction requirements. The town likely took this into account when exploring potential vendors.
It should be noted that this initial purchase does not mean that the council will have Newport Renewables as their vendor for the rest of the project. The town still needs to send out an RFP for companies to bid on the entire installation project and its remaining materials. However, due to their government project experience and the fact that they’re local to South Kingstown, Newport Renewables could still very well end up becoming the top candidate for the entire project in the future.
* For the full story, pick up a copy of this week’s Independent on newsstands now or purchase a subscription to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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