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Press Release: Solar Opportunities Rise Following Success of Solarize Rhode Island

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Tiverton and Little Compton Collectively Double Solar Installations

Providence, R.I. – Governor Gina M. Raimondo, the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER), Commerce RI and SmartPower today announced that Solarize Tiverton and Little Compton, community campaigns to drive solar adoption in Rhode Island, have closed with a dramatic increase of solar adopters. In total, over 55 homeowners and businesses went solar, doubling the amount of solar in the towns. Solarize Tiverton and Little Compton are initiatives of SmartPower, a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance clean energy, along with OER and Commerce RI.

“It is great to see so many Rhode Island families and businesses in Tiverton and Little Compton taking advantage of these solar energy initiatives,” said Raimondo. “With our region facing high energy costs, solar provides an important opportunity to both lower costs and promote clean energy. The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources, Commerce RI, and SmartPower are doing great work, and I look forward to these community campaigns continuing to grow across the state.”

The number of solar installations in Rhode Island is expected to increase with the scheduled launch of two new programs. National Grid’s Renewable Energy Growth (REG) program starts on June 15, which allows customers to earn “bill credits” for the energy they produce from their solar as well as an incentive payment for any excess production. In addition, Dividend Solar, a solar financing

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company, will partner with SmartPower to offer a loan product that allows customers to own their solar systems with no out of pocket cost and achieve immediate savings on their energy bills – all combined with an extended system warranty and production guarantee.

“We are thrilled to see the strong support of solar following the Solarize Tiverton and Little Compton campaigns,” said OER Commissioner Marion Gold. “It is clear there is a growing interest in going solar in Rhode Island. This renewable energy source gives consumers the chance to save money on their utility bills and reduce energy consumption. With new financing opportunities forthcoming, I look forward to continuing this exciting work with our partners.”

“Solarize programs are proven to spur the solar industry in the states where we work by raising awareness and providing educational resources for homeowners,” said SmartPower’s President Brian F. Keane. “At the same time, we’re seeing costs are coming down so much –both in the cost of the hardware and through bundled purchasing – that the installation costs drop another 20 percent. With the introduction of National Grid’s REG program and Dividend Solar’s zero down financing, going solar in Rhode Island is a no-brainer.”

There are currently 1.853 megawatts of small scale solar PV installed in Rhode Island. These programs are expected to bring 3 megawatts of additional small scale solar capacity to the state in the next year, spurring investment in the state and creating jobs as Rhode Islanders reduce their energy bills and become more energy independent.

“Dividend Solar is excited to bring a simple path to solar ownership to Rhode Island and enable Rhode Islanders to maximize their savings while supporting their local community,” said Eric White, President of Dividend Solar. “We look forward to helping homeowners make the decision to go solar easier than ever with the EmpowerLoan.”

For more information on the Renewable Energy Growth Program, please visit nationalgridus.com.

About Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources

The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER) is the lead state agency on energy policy and programs. OER’s mission is to lead Rhode Island to a secure, cost-effective, and sustainable energy future. OER works closely with private and public stakeholders to increase the reliability and security of our energy supply, reduce energy costs and mitigate against price volatility, and improve environmental quality.www.energy.ri.gov

About SmartPower:

SmartPower is an award-winning nonprofit organization that works on behalf of municipalities, utilities, businesses, foundations, state agencies and the federal government to turbo-charge energy efficiency and renewable energy efforts. Through innovative on- the-ground campaigns using friendly competitions and challenges, SmartPower is able to create measureable results and save energy. www.smartpower.org

About Dividend Solar:

Dividend Solar is a leading solar financing company that partners with local installers across the U.S. to offer its $0-down EmpowerLoan. With performance guarantees, warranty management and system production monitoring included with every loan, the EmpowerLoan offers a better, simpler way for solar ownership. www.dividendsolar.com

Press Release: Three Schools Win Rhode Island Video Challenge Awards

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Scituate High School, North Kingstown High School &
Deering Middle School in West Warwick Named Energy Champions

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Three Rhode Island schools, including Scituate High School, North Kingstown High School and Deering Middle School in West Warwick, were honored today for the energy efficiency videos that students developed as part of National Grid and SmartPower’s Rhode Island Video Challenge. The Rhode Island Video Challenge is a competition that launched last fall and an extension of the extremely popular statewide energy efficiency campaign “Find Your Four!” Students at these three schools were the top contributors of creative and engaging videos that showed the ease of finding four ways to reduce energy use. In total, Rhode Island students, classrooms and schools submitted 36 custom-made and unique videos to the competition. Rhode Islanders cast over 10,000 votes for their favorite videos. Today’s schools are being honored for their participation in the Rhode Island Video Challenge with grants to be used for sustainability programs of their choosing. Each school also received a sign announcing their accomplishment as a “Rhode Island Energy Champion.”

Grants included:

 $2500 Grant – First Place and Winner of Most Submitted Videos: Scituate High School

 $1000 Grant – Second Place Winner: North Kingstown High School

 $500 Grant – Third Place Winner: Deering Middle School in West Warwick

“The Rhode Island Video Challenge has been a great program to engage students and community members throughout the state in ways that we can all be more energy efficient. Students developed some amazing and creative videos showing how to reduce energy use,” said Timothy F. Horan, president of National Grid in Rhode Island. “Energy efficiency is an important part of our New England Energy Strategy, so these types of programs help everyone understand how easy it is to make simple changes in their everyday energy usage.” News Release Three Schools Win Rhode Island Video Challenge Awards Scituate High School, North Kingstown High School & Deering Middle School in West Warwick Named Energy Champions “Today we honor these students for their achievements and for leading the way in promoting energy efficiency through their creative videos” said Brian F. Keane, president of SmartPower. “We also honor the teachers and school administrators who inspired students to contribute to making Rhode Island the third most energy efficient state in the country.” The Rhode Island Energy Challenge is a community energy efficiency campaign that asks each of us to take four actions in our homes to reduce our energy use. Since 2013 over 4000 Rhode Island residents have pledged to be more energy efficient at www.findyourfour.com.

About SmartPower
SmartPower, named the “Best Non-Profit Marketing Firm in the United States,” is dedicated to promoting clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency. SmartPower’s award-winning, research-based campaigns have engaged people across the country, building the clean energy marketplace and helping Americans become smarter about their energy use. SmartPower is leading the Rhode Island Energy Challenge in partnership with National Grid. For more information, please visit www.smartpower.org.

About National Grid
National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE: NGG) is an electricity and natural gas delivery company that connects nearly 7 million customers to vital energy sources through its networks in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast. National Grid also operates the systems that deliver gas and electricity across Great Britain. Through its U.S. Connect21 strategy, National Grid is transforming its electricity and natural gas networks to support the 21st century digital economy with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions. Connect21 is vital to our communities’ long-term economic and environmental health and aligns with regulatory initiatives in New York (REV: Reforming the Energy Vision) and Massachusetts (Grid Modernization).

For more information please visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com, or our Connecting website. You can also follow us on Twitter, watch us on You Tube, like us on Facebook and find our photos on Instagram.

Columbia Area Communities Launch Award-Winning Solar Program to Increase Solar in South Carolina

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composite-photo_SC_no-featherAn innovative program designed to help South Carolinians go solar and save on electricity costs is formally launching in the Columbia area on Wednesday, May 6th.Solarize South Carolina is an initiative of SmartPower, a non-profit organization whose mission it to advance clean energy, and Dividend Solar, a national solar financing company. Solarize South Carolina is already operating in the Charleston area and has set a goal to more than triple the amount of residential solar in the state, helping to grow solar investments – and jobs  — in communities across South Carolina.

Solarize is an award-winning and proven “group buy” residential solar program that is accelerating the growth of solar in many cities across the U.S. Solarize South Carolina plans to install solar on 2,000 homes in the next 18 months. Currently, South Carolina ranks 31st in the country in installed solar capacity with 11 megawatts of solar energy installed (Solar Energy Industries Association). This is enough solar to power 1,000 homes.

South Carolina is beginning to build momentum behind renewable energy, which will help offset utility costs, create jobs and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. In April of 2014 the South Carolina legislature unanimously passed a bill to allow net metering and mandate solar generation. Solarize South Carolina will help residential customers take advantage of these new policies.

“It’s not just ratepayers that are benefiting from this legislation. We’re building a new clean-energy industry right here in South Carolina, creating good-paying jobs,” says Representative James Smith D-Richland. “This is good for South Carolina all around.”

“Recently passed legislation has played a significant role in transforming the solar landscape and paving the way for programs like solarize,” says SmartPower’s President & CEO Brian F. Keane. “And at the same time, we’re seeing costs are coming down so much–both the cost of the hardware and through bundled purchasing–that the installation costs drop another 20 percent. This, combined with zero down financing from Dividend Solar, makes going solar in South Carolina a no-brainer!”

SCE&G is at the forefront of the renewable energy transition, and is a supporter of Solarize South Carolina as a way to provide additional benefits for its customers.

“The work that is being done by Solarize South Carolina will give SCE&G customers another clean energy option and help to advance solar across the state as intended by the Distributed Energy Resource Program Act that was signed into law last year,” said Danny Kassis, SCE&G VP Customer Relations and Renewables. “Our support and investment in solar is an important part of this effort to create a balanced energy portfolio that will serve our customers for the future. We are excited to see this innovative and award-winning program come to South Carolina.”

Solarize South Carolina will feature Dividend Solar’s full-service EmpowerLoanTM, allowing homeowners to easily go solar for zero down with no out-of-pocket expense.

“Dividend Solar is delighted to be bringing the Solarize South Carolina program to Columbia, the state capital. We look forward to helping homeowners make the decision to go solar easier than ever with the EmpowerLoan,” said Eric White, President of Dividend Solar.

Further, as a strong encouragement to participate, communities in the Columbia area can receive free solar on any community building they want when 60 residents sign up before the September 30th program deadline.

The Columbia area launch event will be on May 6th at the Columbia Museum of Art, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, and is open to the public. Follow up Solar Workshops have been scheduled at Richland Library Cooper on Thursday, May 7th and Richland Library Southeast  on May 14th, both starting at 6:30 pm. Details can be found on www.SolarizeSC.org.  Residents interested in finding out if their home is good for solar can also sign up for a free no obligation site visit at www.SolarizeSC.org.

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Contact:
Susanna Murley: 202-236-1749, smurley@smartpower.org
Sara Hummel-Rajca: 803-727-2156, shummelrajca@smartpower.org

About SmartPower:

SmartPower is an award-winning nonprofit organization that works on behalf of municipalities, utilities, businesses, foundations, state agencies and the federal government to turbo-charge energy efficiency and renewable energy efforts. Through innovative on- the-ground campaigns using friendly competitions and challenges, SmartPower is able to create measureable results and save energy.www.smartpower.org

About Dividend Solar:

Dividend Solar is a leading solar financing company that partners with local installers across the U.S. to offer its $0-down EmpowerLoan. With performance guarantees, warranty management and system production monitoring included with every loan, the EmpowerLoan offers a better, simpler way for solar ownership.www.dividendsolar.com

Entire Community Mobilizes to help Central Falls Become An “Energy Champion”

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North Providence Steps Up to take National Grid’s RI Energy Challenge! image001PROVIDENCE, RI – National Grid today named the city of Central Falls a “Rhode Island Energy Champion” after students and city officials there successfully mobilized over 5% of the city’s households, or a total of 394 homes to register for the Challenge and change their energy use behaviors. This is the 4th community to successfully complete the Rhode Island Energy Challenge: Find Your Four! campaign. In addition to the designation as an “Energy Champion”, Central Falls is receiving a grant of $7500 from National Grid to help the community invest in further energy savings. Central Falls Mayor James A. Diossa took an active role in promoting the challenge. “The success of this campaign across the state has been inspiring. We wanted Central Falls to be a leader in making Rhode Island more energy efficient. I’m proud of our community and especially all of the students, for stepping up and taking actions in the home to save energy.” At the Mayor’s request, city leaders engaged in face-to-face interaction with residents at community events beginning with the Bright Future Festival. [Read more…]

Solarize South Carolina Launches

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For Immediate Release                                                                       

Contact:
SmartPower: Brian F. Keane 202-775-2042
Lauren Ellison Fox: 843-532-4234

Solarize South Carolina Launches
Award Winning Solar Program to Accelerate Spread of Solar in South Carolina

March 13, 2015 Charleston, SC: Solarize South Carolina, an innovative program designed to help South Carolinians go solar and save on electricity costs, launched today. With discounted installations provided by high-quality local solar installers, there has never been a better way to go solar. The first Solarize program in South Carolina is now available to residents of Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, North Charleston and James Island, and will be introduced across the state in the coming weeks.

Solarize South Carolina (www.solarizesc.org) is a community initiative designed to assist South Carolinians with the adoption of solar power. Solarize South Carolina is a partnership between SmartPower – a national non-profit, Dividend Solar – a leading national lending partner that offers $0-down loans to customers “going solar” across America, and the two leading solar installers in South Carolina: Mount Pleasant-based Alder Energy Systems and Sunstore Solar Energy Solutions of Greenville.

Solarize is an award winning and proven “group buy” residential solar program that is accelerating the growth of solar in many cities across the U.S. In a Solarize campaign, the more households that participate, the lower the costs go for solar. [Read more…]

Solarize Connecticut Wins “Project of Distinction Award” at PV America

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Connecticut’s Green Bank, Yale, Duke & SmartPower Honored As “Driving Force” for Solar Energy Project of Distinction Boston, MA – Solarize Connecticut, a cutting-edge residential solar program that makes going solar easy and affordable, has been awarded the highly coveted “Project of Distinction Award” by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA). The Award was presented at the Annual PV America Conference on Monday. Solarize Connecticut is spearheaded by Connecticut’s Green Bank and is part of the United States Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Evolution and Diffusion Studies (SEEDS). The entire program is a partnership with The Green Bank, SmartPower, Yale University and Duke University. [Read more…]

Senator Whitehouse and State Leadership Announce Launch of Tiverton and Little Compton Solarize Campaigns

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Melissa Czerwein, mczerwein@commerceri.com, (401) 278-9119

Senator Whitehouse and State Leadership Announce Launch of Tiverton and Little Compton Solarize Campaigns

January 29, 2015 (Tiverton, R.I.) — U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Representatives from Governor Gina M. Raimondo’s office joined the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation (Commerce RI), the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER), and non-profit marketing firm SmartPower today to announce the launch of Solarize Tiverton and Solarize Little Compton, the latest communities to join the growing Solarize Rhode Island program. [Read more…]