Are you a Rhode Island resident looking to lower your energy bills? The Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund and the Office of Energy Resources have created the Affordable Solar Access Pathways (ASAP) program to help homeowners reduce their expenses by cutting down on energy costs.
This new, first-of-its-kind program seeks to help areas of Rhode Island including parts of Woonsocket, Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence, Cranston, West Warwick, East Providence, Warren, Middletown and Newport gain access to affordable, cost-saving rooftop solar and energy efficiency services.
Adding rooftop solar to your home can provide cost-saving opportunities but not all Rhode Island homeowners can afford the $25,000+ investment to purchase the system outright. Leasing solar and paying a fixed monthly fee creates an affordable and manageable solution, free from maintenance worries.
Leasing solar from PosiGen
As a public benefit corporation and certified B Corp with a mission to provide Solar For All, PosiGen was selected as the program’s lease provider. This allows us to offer qualifying households access to solar and efficiency services through our innovative solar lease.
All PosiGen customers enjoy:
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No minimum credit score or income requirement
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No down payment
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A 25-year performance guarantee
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Included maintenance, monitoring and warranties
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Guaranteed first-year savings
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No-cost energy efficiency services
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A home energy audit and efficiency upgrades to boost energy savings
The ASAP program provides additional government funds in combination with existing federal and state programs for eligible customers. This support allows PosiGen to offer even lower monthly lease payments and higher savings than typical agreements. Eligible homeowners will receive a discounted solar lease that will provide savings for residents on both the standard residential (A-16) or low-income (A-60) utility rate.
ASAP eligibility criteria:
- Applicants must meet income guidelines. Only households with income less than or equal to 80% of the Rhode Island median will qualify. For a single person, that's $35,674. For a family of four, it’s $68,605.
- ASAP program is limited to single-family homes with 1 to 4 units located in environmental justice areas, as defined by the state Department of Environmental Management, or a census tract eligible for the federal Low-Income Solar Communities Bonus Credit Program.
- Your roof has to be in good condition and the solar system must meet certain performance requirements. PosiGen will conduct a thorough review to ensure the solar system can meet certain performance requirements, offering a kilowatt-hour (kWh money-backed guarantee).
Participants will pay a lease payment for their solar, while continuing to receive a utility bill for any energy usage that their solar production doesn’t cover. However, the combined payments will be less than what you are paying for your utility bill now. Expected savings will depend on a number of factors including solar system size, the home’s access to sunlight, energy efficiency upgrades and your utility rate schedule. Potential savings can range between $500 to $1,500 in the first year, with an average of $548.
During the duration of the lease, PosiGen is responsible for system repairs, warranty claims and insuring the system for the full 25 years. This way, you can be confident that you’ll save money with solar during the first year and expect ongoing savings over the term of the lease. With more than 25,000 customers across a dozen states, PosiGen is a company you can trust. We have offered similar successful programs in Connecticut, Philadelphia and New Orleans and are excited to bring benefits to Rhode Islanders too.
The ASAP program makes it possible for all Rhode Islanders, regardless of income, to access the benefits of clean energy, while helping the state work towards a goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. The initial $1 million of funding is expected to serve between 200 and 300 homes — so act fast! Even if you don’t qualify for ASAP, PosiGen can provide you with a no-cost, no-obligation solar assessment.
Sign up today for a solar consultation to learn if you qualify and how you can benefit.
