Rhode Island’s Office of Energy Resources (OER) announced on 26 October 2026 that work will begin in 2027 on two projects that combine solar carports, battery energy storage and EV charging stations in parking lots on the state’s Capitol Hill campus. A $4.5 million federal earmark is being matched with OER funding.
Project Details
| Item | Detail from OER |
|---|---|
| Project value | About $9 million |
| Federal earmark | $4.5 million, matched with OER funding |
| Locations | Two campus lots (behind the Department of Administration building and next to the Department of Health) |
| Construction start | Toward the end of Q1 2027 |
| Combined campus solar | Approximately 1 MW with existing rooftop systems |
| Expected federal tax credit | 30% to 40% of eligible costs in 2028, worth $3 million to $3.7 million |
OER has secured a 5% safe harbor expenditure toward the Clean Electricity Investment Credit under Section 48E of the Internal Revenue Code. Eligibility requirements still apply.
Lead by Example
The projects come from OER’s Lead by Example program, which works with state agencies, municipalities and public schools. OER says the program has produced more than 185 completed or ongoing energy projects worth more than $48 million. The agency describes this as one of its largest initiatives, aimed at reducing long-term operating energy costs and emissions.
What It Means
Pairing solar, storage and charging is a growing design for public car parks, and it relies on charge points that can manage load. Units with OCPP connectivity, like our EV-AC03201T dual-connector AC station (two Type 2 connectors, OCPP 1.6J, RFID), can be integrated with site energy management. See our commercial charging solutions and OEM and private-label program pages.
Related Reading
- EV Charging News: U.S. EVs Used Nearly 14 Billion kWh in First Half of 2026 as Growth Slows to 8%
- EV Charging News: Seattle Plans Up to 200 Curbside Level 2 Chargers by 2030
- EV Charging News: New Jersey Opens $25 Million Take Charge Program for Private Fleet Charging
Key Takeaways
- Rhode Island will build two solar-carport, battery and EV-charging projects starting in 2027.
- A $4.5 million federal earmark is matched with state funding for a roughly $9 million total.
- The campus will have about 1 MW of solar with existing rooftop systems.
- OER expects a federal tax credit worth $3 million to $3.7 million, subject to eligibility.
