Testimony: Bill to allow more solar on our rooftops is heard in committee

Testimony of Rex Wilmouth in support of House Bill 5580

Good evening. My name is Rex Wilmouth, and I am the State Director for Environment Rhode Island. I would like to thank Chairman O’Brien and the members of the committee for the opportunity to offer our testimony today.

Environment Rhode is a statewide, grassroots environmental advocacy organization. We work to protect clean air, clean water, and open space. I’m here today to testify in support of legislation to expand solar energy.

We rise in support of HB-5580 which will prohibit utility companies from limiting the eligibility of a net-metering site based on prior consumption and require excess energy not consumed under the net-metering system to be credited to the consumer.

By incentivizing solar energy locally, we limit the need to generate power at centralized fossil fuel plants and reduce the need for costly investments in power distribution and transmission. Since they generate electricity at the point of use, solar panels can also improve grid efficiency and save costs by reducing the amount of energy lost during distribution and transmission as well as create a more resilient grid in the event of an emergency or blackout. These grid benefits are valuable to the utility and to every ratepayer, not just those with panels on their roofs, reducing costs and improving service across the board.

Distributed solar resources also deliver valuable benefits beyond the grid. The societal benefits from fewer global warming emissions are immense: The carbon emissions of our current energy system cost the U.S. billions of dollars in economic and social damages each year, so transitioning to clean energy like solar is paramount for our physical and economic health. 

In order for us to continue moving towards a clean and healthy future for Rhode Island, we must encourage renewable energy adoption and can do this through net-metering. Net-metering is critical for Rhode Islanders to be able to invest in solar energy.

As the climate crisis looms, we must support Rhode Islanders who look to decentralize our current energy grid with renewable energy sources. We all want clean air and water for our future in Rhode Island, one way to do that is to continue the support of net-metering for solar users. 

When deciding to put solar on our homes the home owner should be able to come up with a plan for the future of installing electric heat/cooling pumps, electric hot water tanks and electric vehicle charging systems. If the homeowners do not have these devices installed at the time of the solar system installation the homeowner has to have solar installers return to add more solar panels after they have added the new devices. This bill allows the homeowner to plan out what they will need in the future and to be credited for making more energy for the grid. This is a win for the homeowner and the grid by having more energy added for others to use. 

Thank you for your time and allowing me to testify.