Langevin Addresses Economic Potential of Renewable Energy in RI

Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) visited Alteris Renewables, the top solar and wind energy installer for homes and businesses in the Northeast region, for a roundtable discussion about steps that can be taken to ensure Rhode Island is a leader in the growing industry of clean energy, which has the potential to produce many new jobs in the state. Company executives and employees also provided an update on current installation projects, which Langevin said he hoped would increase across the state.

“We have a unique opportunity in Rhode Island, particularly with our work in wind power, to take the lead in building up a renewable energy industry that can secure our state’s energy future and provide sustainable job growth,” said Langevin. “However, advances in this field require a workforce that is sufficiently trained in science technology, engineering and math and has specific skill sets, yet I often hear from Rhode Island businesses in these types of industries that they cannot find qualified job applicants. We need to better engage companies like Alteris, as well as our education community, to understand their needs and ensure we are producing talent that is able to meet them. There should be room in Rhode Island not only for Alteris to expand, but also for other similar companies to prosper.”
 
One example raised in today’s discussion about positioning Rhode Island for growth in renewable energy was the Renewable Energy Siting Project, a collaboration among state agencies with the University of Rhode Island to identify locations that are suitable for solar, wind, and hydropower projects. The RESP will provide guidelines to the state, cities, and towns to use in order to develop comprehensive plans for siting their renewable energy projects

In addition, Alteris officials highlighted their latest projects, including last week’s installation of a 100 kW wind turbine at the Fishermen’s Campground in Narragansett. The company is also planning a 275 kW wind turbine project in Tiverton next month and is going through a merger with Real Good Solar, which will increase its ability to install solar panels. Langevin emphasized his hope that by offering the right training and hands-on experience to our students, many more of these projects will be coming to Rhode Island.