Without doubt, Rhode Islanders are making strides to move away from dependency on fossil fuels. The state's new net metering law displays a commitment to environmentally sustainable energy production, while providing a more economically-feasible alternative for interested developers.

This year, the amount of excess renewable energy allowed to reverse back to the grid jumped 800 percent, according to Environment Rhode Island. For cities and towns that own turbines, up to 3.5 megawatts of energy is allowed back into the system, and 2 MW for other projects.

In addition, if a community like Jamestown builds one turbine for net metering use, the legislation will allow the community to transfer energy credits to other municipal facilities. "You can apply them to traffic lights, town hall, or any other municipal need," said Matthew Auten, advocate for Environment Rhode Island.

Expanding affordable renewable energy options and capacity in Rhode Island has been a longstanding goal of the senate, led by majority leader Sen. Teresa Paiva Weed (D-Jamestown, Newport). In 2007 and 2008, Paiva Weed played a major advocacy role in the passage of the net metering bill. The legislation allows a limited quantity of renewable energy to be generated and used to offset the energy bills of those energy generator-consumers.

"As heating and electricity costs skyrocket, and our concerns for the environment become more-pressing, we must address our clean energy agenda aggressively. It is our responsibility to decrease our state's dependence on expensive fossil fuels," she said.

Small residential, commercial, or public entities have found investing in solar or wind energy generation for their use extremely difficult, the senator adds. The outlay of funds for solar panels or a wind turbine may not appear to be cost-effective in the short-term. "If we truly want to decrease our reliance on costly fossil fuels, and increase our energy diversity, we need to find ways to make the small-scale renewable projects financially feasible."

In the last two decades, a handful of residents have pursued their own sustainable energy production projects with some success. One example is William Smith of Hull Cove Farm Road. In the 1980s, Smith set up a home wind turbine that generated energy in excess of what he used. He approached Newport Electric, which agreed to buy back the extra power. The project was small for the electric company, but benefi- cial for Smith.

The new law has attracted interest from some island businesses looking for economically viable options to high fuel costs. Victor Bell of Environmental Packaging International recently received approval from the town to construct a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified commercial building on Narragansett Avenue.

Although Bell has room on the roof of his building plan, presently, his plan does not include energy production that could be sold back to the grid. Nevertheless, the roof of the new building could provide enough space to install active solar panels. "With the new law that economics might make sense," he said.