300 R.I. Code R. 300-RICR-00-00-3.5

Current through December 3, 2024

Section 300-RICR-00-00-3.5 - STATEWIDE SOLAR ENERGY PERMIT APPLICATION

A. The Office shall develop a statewide solar energy permit application by incorporating the contents listed in § 3.5(D) of this Part.

B. The Office may, from time to time, amend the statewide solar energy permit application and shall notify the municipalities of any amendments to the application.

C. Each municipality shall require applicants to utilize the statewide solar energy permit application.

D. At a minimum, the statewide solar energy permit application shall contain the following information and documentation:

1. Name and address of the owner of the property;

2. Address of the property on which the PV system will be installed, including section, plat, and lot number;

3. Whether the property is in a historic district;

4. Whether the use of the PV system is for a one or two family residence, townhouse, commercial, or other;

5. Total PV system size, both AC and DC;

6. Interconnection location in reference of existing meter (i.e. utility side or customer side);

7. Mounting structure (i.e. ground, roof, or solar canopy);

8. Whether an energy storage component is associated with the PV system, and, if yes, whether the storage use is for backup power or grid services, and how the storage unit will be charged (i.e. solar PV, grid, or both);

9. Business name and address of the applicant (including Rhode Island registration number) and electrician(s) working on the solar installation (including Rhode Island license number);

10. Existing roofing material (i.e. metal, asphalt, fiberglass, wood, membrane, other);

11. Method and type of weatherproofing for roof penetrations (i.e. flashing, caulk);

12. Whether the mounting structure has been engineered and designed to mount solar electric modules and, if not, the details of the mounting structure in a letter from a Rhode Island professional engineer;

13. For manufactured mounting systems:

a. Mounting system manufacturer;

b. Mounting system make and model number;

c. Total weight of solar electric modules and rails (expressed in lbs.);

d. Total number of attachment points;

e. Weight per attachment point (expressed in lbs.);

f. Maximum spacing between attachment points on a rail (expressed in inches);

g. Designed wind speed (expressed in mph);

h. Total surface area of solar electric modules (expressed in ft²);

i. Distributed weight of solar electric module on roof (expressed in lbs/ft²);

14. Inverter and module(s), including the quantity, make, and model;

15. Stamped structural letter signed by a licensed Rhode Island professional engineer;

16. Site plan for ground mounted units;

17. Layout drawing;

18. One line electrical diagram;

19. Manufacturer specification sheets for equipment including modules, inverter(s), racking, and storage equipment (if applicable);

20. For all installations 15kW AC or larger, a 128 project certification form;

21. For all residential (one and two family) installations, certification from a Rhode Island professional engineer that the current structure is able to accommodate all code design loads including, but not limited to, uplift loads, and/or engineered design criteria to modify the existing structure to accommodate said loads; and

22. Signature of applicant and date of application.

300 R.I. Code R. 300-RICR-00-00-3.5