Sec. 74-52. - Renewable energy system tax exemption.

(a)

Authority.

(1)

Pursuant to G.L. § 44-3-3(a)(48) and (49), residential and manufacturing properties that install renewable energy systems are exempt from local taxation.

(2)

Pursuant to G.L. § 44-5-3(c) through (e), commercial renewable energy systems shall be subject to a tangible tax payment to the municipality through rules and regulations that have been adopted by the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (RIOER) for all commercial renewable energy systems.

(3)

Pursuant to G.L. § 44-3-21, city or town councils of the various cities and towns may, by ordinance, exempt from taxation any renewable energy system located in the city or town.

(b)

Tax levies and exemptions.

(1)

In accordance with G.L. § 44-5-3(c), the City of Warwick hereby authorizes its assessor to levy a tax on renewable energy tangible property as defined in G.L. § 39-26-5 in accordance with the rules and regulations executed by the RIOER.

(2)

In accordance with G.L. § 44-3-21, the City of Warwick hereby exempts from tangible personal property taxation commercial net metered renewable energy systems whose sole purpose is to offset electricity bills and not to sell power back to the electric distribution system.

(3)

Notwithstanding any exemption from tangible personal property taxation, the City of Warwick through its assessor retains the right to tax all land, buildings and other improvements located on such properties at fair market value.

(c)

Documentation.

(1)

Property owners installing renewable energy systems shall be required to provide the interconnection application between the renewable energy developer and the electric distribution company and any documentation of the program enrollment (e.g., renewable energy growth or net metering enrollment forms) to the City of Warwick indicating if the renewable energy system is net-metered or if the system is selling a portion or all of the energy produced back to the electric distribution company under the renewable energy growth program. A copy of the final interconnection service agreement executed between the renewable energy developer and electric distribution company shall be provided to the City of Warwick prior to construction of the renewable energy system.

(2)

Copies of all applications, documentation of the program enrollment, the final interconnection service agreement(s) and any other documentation relevant to any renewable energy system as determined by the tax assessor, shall be provided to the tax assessor.

(Ord. No. O-12-7, § I, 3-13-12; Ord. No. O-22-8, § I, 3-22-22)