PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER) has partnered with six Rhode Island towns and school districts in an initiative to help them save energy and reduce their costs.
Launched in spring 2019, the Achieving Community Efficiency Program (ACE) is a multiyear pilot program led by OER and Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP). Those selected for the ACE program are the Towns of Warren, South Kingstown and North Providence and the public school systems of Barrington, Scituate and North Providence.
OER will engage these six partner communities through a shared energy manager, who will provide customized technical assistance and resources to help them track their energy use, set energy reduction goals, and identify opportunities for energy efficiency improvements.
"Local municipalities and school districts often face unique energy challenges with limited staff resources and access to clean energy information," said State Energy Commissioner Carol Grant. "Through the ACE pilot program, each participating community will receive access to a shared energy manager, who will help them discover opportunities for improving their energy efficiency, saving money, and cutting their carbon emissions. We hope to take what we learn from this pilot and replicate this model across even more Rhode Island communities and partner energy offices around the country."
"The Town of Warren is proud to participate in the ACE program," said Warren Town Manager Kate Michaud. "We appreciate the Office of Energy Resources for assembling a diverse team of federal, state and local participants to help meet the State's ambitious goals for energy efficiency and conservation through local action. We look forward to the benefits that will be realized for our taxpayers and for our environment."
The ACE program in Rhode Island is part of a national program funded via a cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Energy's State Energy Program, which provides financial and technical assistance to states to enhance energy security, advance state-led energy initiatives, and maximize the benefits of increasing energy efficiency. Other ACE project partners include the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and the West Virginia Energy Office.