[Summit] FW: coalition letter/ SOLAR SUPORT/ origional/ Urgent

Mon Jan 10 19:02:23 UTC 2022

Reduced truck traffic versus other potential uses of the site.  Reduced emissions from  gas powered Manchester st station. 

From: Coryndon Luxmoore <coryndon at luxmoore.com>
Date: Monday, January 10, 2022 at 1:54 PM
To: Ethan Gyles <ethangy at gmail.com>
Cc: Greg Gerritt <gerritt at mindspring.com>, Summit Neighborhood <Summit at sna.providence.ri.us>
Subject: Re: [Summit] FW: coalition letter/ SOLAR SUPORT/ origional/ Urgent

6) How does this actually address the cited asthma issue? The health claim is real but I am unclear how this effort will improve the problem given it is typically driven by local air pollution from highways, poor housing, etc.

On Mon, Jan 10, 2022 at 10:01 AM Ethan Gyles <ethangy at gmail.com> wrote:

I would generally encourage the SNA to support this, however I would also encourage SNA to ask the Coalition to question the developer on the following elements of the statement:

1) Just a note of caution, this particular solar developer has extensive experience in the state but also has made headlines for poor practices. I would have recommended other companies over this one based on what I've read about them. However, sounds like the ship has sailed. Example at the link below. 

https://www.ecori.org/renewable-energy/2020/2/1/green-development-threatens-towns-with-huge-lawsuits

2) Does the developer already have a lease option or land purchase option in place with the existing landowner of the parcel? This is an important piece to confirm, or else the whole thing is speculative. The landowner must agree formally this is what they want to do with the parcel.

3) The statement mentions that the project would be "community-owned." Typically, in the "community solar" model, the solar projects themselves are not "community-owned," but owned by solar company with subscriptions going to residents in the community. A technicality perhaps, but an important distinction. I worry this is a talking point from the developer. Or maybe this is different and the City would indeed own the project?

4) The statement says this would lower electricity rates for local residents. Typically, in the "community solar" model, residents can opt-in to subscribe and achieve modest savings on their electric bill, on the order of 10-15%. However, my understanding was the the R.I. community solar program enabled by legislation a few years ago had a cap of 30 megawatts and that cap is full. My understanding is subscriptions also have been flowing through a 'middle-man' company, called Arcadia (we've all by now probably seen their postcards in the mail at one time or another before the program, to my knowledged, filled up). That program is, so far, the only way residents can get savings from community solar projects. If it's full, this statement by the Coalition is misleading. I suspect they got the talking point from the developer, so it'd be the developer I'd question here, not the Coalition. Perhaps I'm wrong and the program is not full. Secondarily, I would ask Green Development to make clear what the discount they'll be offering local residents who subscribe actually is, and what the fine print would be. Some companies offer great, legitimate, and transparent subscriptions. Some less reputable ones have caveats.

5) I would ask how the subscriptions will be made available to the South Providence/Washington Park community before being made available statewide. Current rules on community solar allow anyone in the utility's territory (i.e. most of the state) eligible to subscribe to any community solar project in that utility's territory. I'd be leery that they'd be gobbled up unless written conditions were put in place.

Best regards,

Ethan

On Mon, Jan 10, 2022 at 9:32 AM Greg Gerritt <gerritt at mindspring.com> wrote:

Would the Summit Neighborhood Association Board consider signing on?  Greg gerritt

From: Linda Perri <bettylinda at aol.com>
Reply-To: Linda Perri <bettylinda at aol.com>
Date: Monday, January 10, 2022 at 9:20 AM
To: "kyle.bennett at unitedwayri.org" <kyle.bennett at unitedwayri.org>, "kyle.bennett at uwri.org" <kyle.bennett at uwri.org>, "chwaterson at watersonllc.com" <chwaterson at watersonllc.com>, Monica Huertas <monicavchuertas at gmail.com>, vatic Kuumba <vatickuumba at gmail.com>, Priscilla De La Cruz <pdelacruz at asri.org>, "pedroe1130 at gmail.com" <pedroe1130 at gmail.com>, "j.f.batista1 at gmail.com" <j.f.batista1 at gmail.com>, "tiaramackri at gmail.com" <tiaramackri at gmail.com>, "info at johnforward1.com" <info at johnforward1.com>, "baxter at onenb.org" <baxter at onenb.org>, "buff at cornishlp.com" <buff at cornishlp.com>, "jthorp at savebay.org" <jthorp at savebay.org>, "rhart at providenceri.gov" <rhart at providenceri.gov>, Sue Anderbois <sue.anderbois at gmail.com>, Julian Dash <juliandash at gmail.com>, Nirva LaFortune <nirvaward3 at gmail.com>, "bramson at onenb.org" <bramson at onenb.org>, "jtaylor at providenceri.gov" <jtaylor at providenceri.gov>, "Batista, Alexandra" <abatista at providenceri.gov>, "ward11 at providenceri.com" <ward11 at providenceri.com>, "carmencastilloward9 at gmail.com" <carmencastilloward9 at gmail.com>, "bnickerson at providenceri.gov" <bnickerson at providenceri.gov>, Frank Carini <frank at ecori.org>, "sen-miller at rilin.state.ri.us" <sen-miller at rilin.state.ri.us>, Joshua Miller <joshua.miller at cox.net>, "joshua.oneill at doa.ri.gov" <joshua.oneill at doa.ri.gov>, "jvincent at ripta.com" <jvincent at ripta.com>, "southprovneighbors at gmail.com" <southprovneighbors at gmail.com>, ECRI <environmentcouncil at earthlink.net>, "gerritt at mindspring.com" <gerritt at mindspring.com>, Molly Henry <molly.henry.ctr at dem.ri.gov>, Julian Rodríguez-Drix <mercuryriseup at gmail.com>, "Drix, Julian (RIDOH)" <julian.drix at health.ri.gov>, Amelia Rose <arose at groundworkri.org>, Cassie Tharinger <ctharinger at pnpp.org>, "jfinkle at growsmartri.com" <jfinkle at growsmartri.com>, Sharon Steele <sharon at sharonsteele.com>, "ahoffman at riag.ri.gov" <ahoffman at riag.ri.gov>, Doug Victor <doug.crimewatch at gmail.com>, "aprilhbrown at gmail.com" <aprilhbrown at gmail.com>, "jshapin2 at gmail.com" <jshapin2 at gmail.com>, Steve Ahlquist <atomicsteve at gmail.com>, "jcrowley at clf.org" <jcrowley at clf.org>, Linda Perri <bettylinda at aol.com>, "nickcicc at gmail.com" <nickcicc at gmail.com>
Subject: Fwd: coalition letter/ SOLAR SUPORT/ origional/ Urgent

Linda Perri 

Washingtion Park Association

'working together with our neighbors'

bettylinda at aol.com

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