[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6530757,"mediaKeyId","3639632-7c5fd61cff3e5334774cb54e50cc6dbd","parentId",3639632,"title","Lawrence Berkeley study finds solar could meet island demand; local policy questions remain","audioSeconds",1477,"startMs",2084000,"endMs",3561000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3639632-7c5fd61cff3e5334774cb54e50cc6dbd&start=2084&end=3561","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3639632-7c5fd61cff3e5334774cb54e50cc6dbd/thumbnail_2084000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6530757/New-Shoreham/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Lawrence-Berkeley-study-finds-solar-could-meet-island-demand-local-policy-questions-remain","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530757-a8109f66af749cd310687f3333740f18/orig.mp4?Expires=1770956004&Signature=DfuiSmoqWKz~PvJb4LxUCyL3freCkaTfGJYoGpEu46MbrLCB4cCWfybCRPeiXThXQ-ekPbu8ERJ4w5Aq4SGLRHinqz~r-2ig8d-yI5zExVQBlmcGVMcCjkdLEs1UKUJ1mbfrXIZfOyyW5hHu4daDMp2E-FIPXCMVkuenR1SUGiVQd6H5AdRfyHqhnXD5vdntt6VsLnErL0pLvISlPj14~1k5TnD6Gh3hC~3cJ2qZxIt87Fa0nyy8lfs7-uqSAI7JON88jzM2l2ITBEjXFL4L5SUXKGG0dliImva0RV7CivRVgAIibN73VaVIwTD4kZl8qgKmNcsmwSZMUjNRZ62K1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of New Shoreham","date","2025-06-03T20:37:36.06Z","article","Peter Kappers, of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, told the Block Island Coastal Resilience Committee that a recent Energy Technology Innovation Partnership (ETIP) analysis found rooftop and community solar could meet the island’s electricity needs under the study’s load assumptions.

The study, Kappers said, estimated that community solar could generate as much as 40 megawatts at an instant and rooftop residential solar up to about 9.5 megawatts of instantaneous capacity, though his evaluation limited deployment to meet forecasted load rather than potential maximum generation. “Community solar could actually, generate a 40 megawatts,” Kappers said during the presentation.

Why it matters: Committee members said the analysis has implications for the island’s resilience to undersea cable outages and for reducing diesel dependence. At the same time, the committee flagged local policy and contract constraints that could prevent full benefit from added solar and storage.

Key details from the presentation

- Study scope and constraints: The ETIP analysis looked at rooftop solar for residential and commercial structures and community-scale ground-mounted solar on available land; it did not include investigation of wind energy. Kappers emphasized the team carefully screened land for zoning setbacks and conservation restrictions.

- Instantaneous vs. sustained generation: Kappers and committee members stressed megawatts in the report refer to instantaneous capacity, not continuous energy over time. He noted storage could absorb excess generation for later use, but his evaluation used the current state of battery technology.

- Grid and contractual constraints: The island’s cable agreement currently prohibits sending power back to the mainland grid, limiting the ability to export excess generation. Committee members also identified an island policy called “BASA” (buy-all, sell-all) as a focal point of debate; Kappers did not evaluate whether BASA is the best policy for encouraging rooftop adoption.

- Timing and next steps: Kappers said a more technical written report will be delivered to the Block Island Utility District in July. Committee members urged the utility and the public to review the report and to reopen discussion of local policies that affect adoption and resilience.

What committee members said

John Warfel, identified in the meeting as a commissioner of the Block Island Utility District, had earlier initiated the ETIP application to the Department of Energy. Committee members noted that the current utility contract timing (a contract change expected in November) and specific contract terms can affect which resources are curtailed when supply exceeds load.

One attendee, speaking from personal experience, said rooftop solar has reduced monthly bills: “My energy bill from the Block Island Power Company this month was negative,” the attendee said.

Actions and outstanding questions

No formal policy vote occurred at the June meeting. Committee members asked the utility district to open a public discussion on whether to revisit BASA and other local rules that affect small-scale solar economics and to review the November contract that will govern supply. Kappers’s July technical report was identified as a critical next step.

Ending

Committee members said they will monitor the ETIP technical report when it arrives and urged wider public engagement on whether local rules should change to enable more on-island generation and storage.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Coastal Resilience Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Peter Kappers, of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, told the Block Island Coastal Resilience Committee that a recent Energy Technology Innovation Partnership (ETIP) analysis found rooftop and community solar could meet the island’s electricity needs under the study’s load assumptions.","taxTitle","New Shoreham, Washington County, Rhode Island","taxId",79696,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6530746,"Votes at a glance: committee approves minutes and two letters of support",4782,37000,4819000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3639632-7c5fd61cff3e5334774cb54e50cc6dbd&start=37&end=4819","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3639632-7c5fd61cff3e5334774cb54e50cc6dbd/thumbnail_37000.jpg","/articles/6530746/New-Shoreham/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Votes-at-a-glance-committee-approves-minutes-and-two-letters-of-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530746-cef0f3529ea3d07dae77138c5efdead2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770956004&Signature=l932kZXaXlBMfzkRjLUP9DE18f6mjhGckAdR6zfqsM7Kwp2vKxbyVOCcLDwsxkFlAQGGdI9C~gkfzK9dkyf7nSyMeHRVffsQMdWkxc941go~E50s7jEzr84BqL-mOcu934-mn4-WZiLGMdldIpw~tT6DB3OD1T4Jqbs~pkBMjeJY3vvXK7~dzlZPisxspvRlT1UlGwqd61aX012LTYSvY1~LiGVmMnOjKCHJoOun7yISV3tsj5xwLmGEHwnmVMMMN95oj3gUa1imRM7CIk~VqsuNUR49Wc7~USK6iVDVQ8W7niD7851ILKA2~GRFbxwYebZR6ygQvkiNelVzxkQ6AA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Block Island Coastal Resilience Committee recorded the following formal actions during the meeting.

Approval of minutes

The committee moved to approve the minutes of its May 6 meeting, including minor grammatical corrections and an added list of marshes of interest suggested by a member. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript.

Letters of support

The committee voted to forward two draft letters to the town for consideration and potential transmission:

- A letter requesting full federal funding for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, noting the Reserve’s role in establishing and training local volunteer and monitoring groups.

- A letter of support for the Northeast Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (NERACOOS) acknowledging their installation of an optical water-level sensor at the dock and requesting continued support.

A motion to approve forwarding the two draft letters was moved and seconded; members voted “Aye” by voice and the chair declared the motion approved. The committee noted the town will decide whether to adopt and send the letters as-is.

Notes on votes

- Votes were recorded as voice votes in the meeting; the transcript does not show individual vote records or numeric tallies.

Ending

No opposed votes were recorded for the items above; the committee moved on to agenda items about summer outreach plans.","The Block Island Coastal Resilience Committee approved amended minutes for May 6 and voted to forward draft letters supporting full federal funding for the National Estuarine Research Reserve and supporting NERACOOS. Votes were taken by voice; no named tally recorded in the minutes.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6530751,"Committee discusses ordinance revisions, comp-plan alignment and homeowner relief for bluff erosion",405,1361000,1766000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3639632-7c5fd61cff3e5334774cb54e50cc6dbd&start=1361&end=1766","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3639632-7c5fd61cff3e5334774cb54e50cc6dbd/thumbnail_1361000.jpg","/articles/6530751/New-Shoreham/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Committee-discusses-ordinance-revisions-comp-plan-alignment-and-homeowner-relief-for-bluff-erosion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530751-758df80567b7c962f622c934e3fadfb1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770956004&Signature=dw-PFTOaVxiMB5sYNYJVcCNWvhMpM-ags-GyQGFHjJ8Dio6Z-74czkQ89UNHEz-y5-PlvL~icwKEE4eRIagC30cdz02N7ZBhU4PiF4Sz0bT3hXwBBc2kE1478yuRocXodXtMdjIbqRBSz2xgp6cys2jyC0tLv61okWSv2g5Spzfv19Gsn2CoJ8KAd7O4WMcJCFE2-oBKzd364ztdj20TQbhHqkAe5UCFHTMSfKZQ1ki526rVdjvoG5BIw248nfovzAmPrpzY1F1Ur-RKjqG-PCUH3kQtkpSwelvIhQlb0tLmdhGjy8M~tOvoK8xN9oRBE5~B270gZJaHkO7xYMZsyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members described ongoing work to identify ordinance changes and comp-plan updates that would integrate sea level rise, storm surge and erosion considerations into land-use approvals.

Why it matters: Members said embedding resilience language into the comprehensive plan and ordinances is essential for eligibility for many grants and to create standards for new construction and relief options for existing structures.

Discussion highlights

- Ordinance priorities: The ordinance working group identified categories including updated overlay maps for flood-prone areas; land-use and application-process revisions that would integrate sea level rise considerations; standards for siting and design; and options to provide relief for existing structures.

- Relief for homeowners on bluffs: Committee members and several attendees discussed mechanisms used elsewhere (Nantucket cited as an example) to allow relief for homeowners seeking to move structures or obtain variances when facing bluff erosion. Members said specific ordinance language and processes have not yet been drafted; the committee agreed to pursue more concrete recommendations.

- Implementation table and grant readiness: Town planner Allison said the town maintains an implementation table (an appendix in the comprehensive plan) and noted FEMA approval of the hazard mitigation plan. Members urged sorting action items into implemented/partially implemented/not implemented to improve grant competitiveness.

Decisions and next steps

No formal ordinance changes were made at the meeting. The committee agreed to nominate one or two members to serve on the comprehensive plan update team and to continue drafting ordinance language and examples of homeowner relief mechanisms for future recommendation to the town council or ordinance committee.

Ending

Committee members said they will return draft ordinance objectives and any proposed relief language for review at a future meeting and coordinate with the town’s comp-plan update.","Members reviewed ordinance and comp-plan connections, endorsed compiling implementation actions, and discussed potential zoning relief pathways for at-risk long-standing homes on eroding bluffs. No ordinance changes were voted; committee prioritized drafting recommendations to feed the comprehensive plan update and future town actions.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6530755,"Committee previews draft climate ‘story map’ and plans outreach with QR codes and postcards",1641,2860000,4501000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3639632-7c5fd61cff3e5334774cb54e50cc6dbd&start=2860&end=4501","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3639632-7c5fd61cff3e5334774cb54e50cc6dbd/thumbnail_2860000.jpg","/articles/6530755/New-Shoreham/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Committee-previews-draft-climate-story-map-and-plans-outreach-with-QR-codes-and-postcards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530755-bf8df6bb7e8e56b97413c3b20a275df4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770956004&Signature=NVDLa1sEMsnFaZ7CjvoELvSDB~OyoXgVUMoNa4BpAHnN-SNhcM4svbQx5iPgSwcuNSioTbyyFiSpo3-wjoZQkPhoFSh3H4zh6eSEs1geLcXCAcYoTrrI3C9b1HS2u2g5DGQm3VIs412C8xOYvek5yAzgb9d8JMiXpqHm7HPuz~kv2m6FH-CiElNbGHWa9h6YM47otyN8Ssi7A2uO3UYwen2tn5dK2p4NC5edYuMxhCaYb4SGrZpxOrJXR3J4hXKPwBmOCAatD2AjZOuZ-WgeivnC75576qi1ld-JhGbr~FxC3EgMirMBPRK0QpTMcI2BT6yEfHjNF-wpzSTNm762og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Nora, who developed a draft “Block Island climate hotspot” story map, showed the committee an interactive map intended to gather existing plans, project links and public-facing resources for hotspots such as Corn Neck Road, Bridgecate Square, North Light and West Beach.

Why it matters: Committee members said a single, user-friendly hub could help residents and visitors find local assessments, ongoing projects and “what has worked/what hasn’t” examples of bluff and beach interventions. The map is meant to support community education and to direct people to town documents and presentations.

What the draft includes

- Content and links: Nora said she incorporated town documents, GZA survey slides, presentation recordings, and links to the hazard mitigation plan. The draft includes a “take action” section with suggestions such as attending committee meetings and participating in coastal monitoring programs.

- Format and hosting: The draft ArcGIS story map is live; Nora plans to link it to the Nature Conservancy/committee web presence and to place the story map on the Town’s site. The committee discussed making the story map available via QR codes and rack cards at public locations.

- Local project tracking: Several members urged the map to list past and current shoreline projects and permit records—“what worked, what didn’t, where,” as committee member Nigel put it—so owners and neighbors can learn from previous installations.

- Accessibility and outreach: Members recommended translating the map content into Spanish and distributing postcards and rack cards to post office boxes and vendors. The committee discussed using the Town Beach pavilion or an early-September event to promote the map and gather public feedback.

Committee support and next steps

Allison, the town planner, said the town’s hazard mitigation plan has been FEMA-approved and that project websites and slides from the Corn Neck Road public engagement would be available for linking. Nora said she could accept feedback by Google form and update the map iteratively. Several members volunteered to help compile a list of past shoreline projects and local permits to add to the map.

Ending

The committee agreed to continue refining the story map and to coordinate outreach—QR codes, postcards, and a public event linked to upcoming consultant presentations—before and during the summer outreach season.","Town coastal resilience staff presented a draft Block Island climate hotspot story map. The committee discussed linking the map to town/Nature Conservancy pages, adding lessons from local projects, and using postcards, QR codes and multilingual materials for summer outreach.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lawrence Berkeley study finds solar could meet island demand; local policy questions remain

Votes at a glance: committee approves minutes and two letters of support

Committee discusses ordinance revisions, comp-plan alignment and homeowner relief for bluff erosion

Committee previews draft climate ‘story map’ and plans outreach with QR codes and postcards