STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
IN RE: APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION AS
ELIGIBLE RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCE
FILED BY SUNNOVA ENERGY INTERNATIONAL INC
NEW GENERATION
DOCKET NO. RES-23-01
ORDER
On December 3, 2025, Sunnova Energy International Inc[1] filed with the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (PUC or Commission) an application seeking certification for twenty-eight (28) customer sited Generation Units located in Rhode Island, to be qualified as eligible New Renewable Energy Resources in accordance with the PUC’s Rules and Regulations Governing the Implementation of a Renewable Energy Standard (Rules) and R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-26-1.
In this docket, the Commission previously approved an aggregated application process[2] for qualified Generation Units, each in its own aggregation.[3] Consistent with the approved process, the Commission reviews the eligibility of each separate unit. As shown in Appendix A to this order, the twenty-eight (28) Generation Units have individual generating capacity between approximately 1.45 kW and 23 kW AC for a total combined capacity of .21814 MW AC (.22445 MW DC).[4]
The application included a request to the extent required by the Commission, that PowerDash be approved as the independent verifier for verifying and reporting appropriate generation data from the individual Generation Units to the NEPOOL-GIS.[5] Stephen Lapointe is the contact person assigned by PowerDash. The Company shall notify the Commission if Mr. Lapointe is replaced by another PowerDash representative. If PowerDash ceases to be retained as the independent verifier, the Company will need to either choose a new previously qualified independent verifier or seek approval of a new independent verifier.
The Company provided supplemental and clarifying information to the PUC on December 3, 2025, regarding the commercial operation dates and accurate addresses for the Generation Units subject to this order.
After examination, the PUC finds that the facilities listed in Appendix A are eligible New Renewable Energy Resources with commercial operation dates commencing after December 31, 1997.[6] The PUC’s determination in this docket is based on the information submitted by the Company and the PUC may reverse its ruling or revoke the generation unit(s) certification if any material information provided by the Company proves to be false or misleading.
Accordingly, it is
(25587) ORDERED:
1) The Company’s Sunnova - Rhode Island Aggregation aggregated application for twenty-eight (28) customer-sited, behind-the-meter, small-scale Generation Units which each meet the requirements for eligibility as New, Solar Renewable Energy Resources as listed in Appendix A to this order having an initial Commercial Operation Date of March 25. 2025, and located within the NEPOOL control area throughout Rhode Island is approved.
2) Eligibility as a New, Solar Renewable Energy Resource is granted to the twenty-eight (28) Generation Units where the Generation Units have each been issued a unique NEPOOL-GIS Identification Number, as listed in Appendix A.
3) Each Generation Unit listed in Appendix A is assigned a unique Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission Eligible Renewable Energy Resource Facility Certification Number associated with the Aggregation’s certification number, RI-2301-N24.
4) In order for the Company to add incremental Generation Units under this aggregated application, the Company must add them as new eligible facilities, each with its own unique NEPOOL-GIS number. The Company will not be required to initiate a new application for each new generating unit but instead, will submit new data for each generating unit for which it is seeking approval, within this docket. Any addition will be subject to review by the PUC and its consultant for eligibility as a New Renewable Energy Resource prior to receiving a unique Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission Eligible Renewable Energy Resource Facility Certification Number.
5) PowerDash is approved to be the independent verifier for verifying and reporting appropriate generation data from the individual Generation Units to the NEPOOL-GIS.
6) Each approved facility’s Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) become Rhode Island-eligible effective on the first day which the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission Eligible Renewable Energy Resource Facility Certification Number is issued. All RECs associated with the production of eligible energy that are minted on or after the Effective Date are eligible for the Renewable Energy Standard.
7) Although the PUC will rely upon the NEPOOL-GIS for verification of production of energy from each Generation Unit certified as eligible in this Order, the Company will provide information and access as necessary to the PUC, or persons acting on its behalf, to conduct audits or site visits to assist in verification of continued eligibility for and compliance with Rhode Island Renewable Energy Standard Certification at any time, at the PUC's discretion.
8) The Company shall promptly notify the PUC in the event of a change associated with the Company's aggregation eligibility status.
EFFECTIVE AT WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND ON JANUARY 20, 2026 PURSUANT TO AN OPEN MEETING DECISION. WRITTEN ORDER ISSUED FEBRUARY 4, 2026.
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
________________________________
Ronald T. Gerwatowski, Chairman
________________________________
Abigail Anthony, Commissioner
________________________________
Karen M. Bradbury, Commissioner
NOTICE OF RIGHT OF APPEAL: Pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-5-1, any person aggrieved by a decision or order of the PUC may, within seven days from the date of the order, petition the Supreme Court for a Writ of Certiorari to review the legality and reasonableness of the decision or order.
[1] The authorized representative was identified as Daniel Aspden, Sunnova Energy International Inc, 20 Greenway Plaza 540 Houston, TX 77046, 281-832-0504, renewables@sunnova.com
[2] Order No. 24901 (issued Jan. 10, 2024). In order for the Company to add incremental Generation Units under this aggregated application, the Company must add them as new eligible facilities, each with its own unique NEPOOL-GIS number. The Company is not required to initiate a new application for each new generating unit but instead, submits new data for each generating unit for which it is seeking approval, within this docket. Any addition(s) are then subject to review by the PUC and its consultant for eligibility as a New Renewable Energy Resource prior to receiving a unique Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission Eligible Renewable Energy Resource Facility Certification Number.
[3] An aggregation may consist of as few as one Generation Unit, and the aggregation may be owned and/or operated by the same entities that own the Generation Units in the aggregation. In applying for certification by the Commission, the Aggregation Owner shall submit proposed procedures under which their particular aggregation will operate (“Aggregation Agreement,” see § 2.6(H)(4) of this Part). The Commission may then certify the aggregation as an eligible Generation Unit, stipulating that the aggregation follow the procedures specified in the Aggregation Agreement. For the purposes of these Renewable Energy Standard regulations, an aggregation so certified will be considered a single “Generation Unit.” Once certified by the Commission, individual Generation Units may enter or leave the aggregation without requiring approval of the Commission, so long as additions or subtractions from the aggregation comply with the Aggregation Agreement.
[4] All have achieved commercial operation
[5] An independent verifier “is responsible for monitoring, verifying and entering into the NEPOOL GIS the quantity of eligible energy produced by Generation Units in an aggregation, a Customer-Sited Generation Facility, or an Off-grid Generation Facility whose energy production data (or any part thereof) is not automatically included in the ISO Market Settlement System” 810-RICR-40-05-2.33(a).
[6] Pursuant to Section 2.6 and other relevant Sections of the Rules, a thirty-day period for public comment was provided during which time no such comments were received.