In partnership with

REAP Solar Section

Streamlined Solar + Storage for Rhode Island Cities and Towns

Available through the Rhode Island Energy Aggregation Program (REAP)

Through the Rhode Island Energy Aggregation Program (REAP) service agreement with PowerOptions, Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns members can pursue solar and energy storage projects using a compliant interlocal procurement pathway — without conducting their own RFP. This approach streamlines project evaluation, procurement, and implementation for municipal facilities.

Program Benefits for League Members
  • Compliant Interlocal Procurement
  • Pre-Negotiated Contracts
  • Consortium Volume Pricing
REAP Partners

How the Program Works

Rhode Island League of Cities & Towns

REAP Program

The Rhode Island Energy Aggregation Program (REAP), administered by the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, connects municipalities with energy solutions through the League’s long-standing aggregation program.

As League members, municipalities participating in REAP are eligible to utilize PowerOptions consortium contracts for energy solutions, including solar, energy storage, and EV charging infrastructure.

PowerOptions

Procurement and Energy Advising

Through the League’s REAP program, PowerOptions provides energy advising and procurement support to Rhode Island municipalities, helping cities and towns evaluate facilities and implement solar, energy storage, and EV charging infrastructure.

Interlocal procurement enabled by R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 45-40.1-1 et seq.

PowerOptions supports municipalities from initial project evaluation through contract execution and project oversight to ensure compliance with the competitive procurement process. Their contract templates include strong protections and group pricing.

Through a rigorous competitive RFP process, PowerOptions selected Solect Energy as the solar, energy storage, and EV charging infrastructure provider under its consortium contract.

Solect Energy

Project Development and Implementation

Solect Energy is the largest commercial solar and storage company in New England, and has completed more than 1,000 projects since 2009. Solect designs, finances, installs, and maintains solar, energy storage, and EV charging infrastructure, and has financed and installed more than 200 public projects through the PowerOptions program.

Municipalities contract directly with Solect for projects at their properties through:

  • Purchase and Installation Agreements
  • Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)
  • Energy Storage Agreements

Projects are developed based on facility characteristics, electricity usage, and projected savings potential. Solect also provides remote system monitoring and technical maintenance to help ensure systems perform optimally and maximize long-term savings.

Municipal Facilities

Common Municipal Facilities for Solar and Energy Storage

Solar and energy storage projects can be evaluated for many municipal facilities, including:

City and Town Halls
Public Schools and Administrative Buildings
Department of Public Works (DPW) Facilities
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants
Police and Fire Stations
Libraries and Community Centers
Municipal Parking Areas and Campuses
Projects may be installed on building rooftops, parking canopies, or adjacent land, depending on site conditions and available space.
REAP FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Through the Rhode Island Energy Aggregation Program (REAP) service agreement with PowerOptions, Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns members can utilize the PowerOptions consortium contract. This provides a compliant interlocal procurement pathway that eliminates the need to conduct a separate RFP.

PowerOptions conducted a rigorous competitive RFP process to evaluate qualified providers and selected Solect Energy as the solar, energy storage, and EV charging infrastructure provider under its consortium contract.

Projects can be evaluated for many types of municipal facilities, including schools, town and city halls, public safety buildings, public works facilities, water and wastewater treatment plants, libraries, and other municipal buildings. Solar installations are typically best suited for larger buildings and parking areas with good sun exposure and significant electricity use.

Rooftop Solar
  • At least 15,000 sq ft of available roof area
  • At least 20 years of useful life remaining, with a valid manufacturer’s warranty
Parking Canopy Solar
  • At least 25,000 sq ft of open parking lot area
  • No underground or below-grade conditions that would prevent canopy foundations
Energy Storage
  • Electric demand greater than 500 kW
  • Time-of-use electric meters
  • Available ground area for pad-mounted storage equipment

Municipal facilities that do not meet these thresholds may still be good candidates, and an initial evaluation can help determine feasibility.

Not necessarily. Many municipal solar projects are implemented through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), where Solect finances, installs, and maintains the system. The municipality purchases the electricity produced by the system at a low, fixed rate over a 20–25 year contract.

Yes. Incentive programs like RI REG and REF help reduce the PPA rate or the payback on project purchases.

The federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is phasing out; however, Solect has purchased and warehoused a significant amount of solar equipment to Safe Harbor the ITC value for upcoming projects.

Combined, solar projects can save tens of thousands of dollars per year for cities and towns. Energy storage systems can also provide backup power for critical facilities, and EV charging infrastructure can support electric vehicle adoption across the community.

Municipal leaders can contact PowerOptions or Solect to discuss facility suitability, electricity usage, and potential project opportunities through the REAP program.

You can also meet our teams at RILCT meetings, Energy Committee events, or schedule a meeting using the button below.

REAP CTA Section
Municipal leaders in conversation
Get Started

Start the Conversation

Municipal leaders can contact PowerOptions or Solect to explore whether solar or energy storage may be a good fit for their facilities. Initial discussions typically include:

  • Review of municipal facilities and electricity usage
  • Preliminary evaluation of rooftop, canopy, or land-based solar potential
  • Discussion of procurement through the REAP program and PowerOptions consortium contract
  • Overview of incentives, financing options, and potential savings

Connect with our team to explore solar and energy storage through the REAP program and the PowerOptions consortium contract.

Get in Touch