To the editor:

I’m talking about the chain link fence that the Navy threatens build through the lawns of some Portsmouth residents, and by “behind” I mean the reason the fence is important. The Navy, National Grid, Solar Breakers (the solar contractor), and the R.I. Public Utilities Commission (RIPUC) have put together a complex deal that benefits each. It also benefits all who support the Navy on Aquidneck Island.

The Navy will trade a 37-year lease on 83 acres of land to Solar Breakers, for a combined heat and power (CHP) plant that costs about $18 million. That plant will save the Navy about $11 million over 20 years, but more importantly it will add to the efficiency and resiliency of the Newport Naval Station and the Navy will be able to count the 20MW of solar power to be generated on that land against its renewable energy goals. That’s two separate energy savers, a power plant plus a solar farm … both for free. A win/win/win for the Newport Navy that helps to anchor it here.

National Grid has applied to RIPUC for a $7.2 million Energy Efficiency Incentive to be paid to Solar Breakers based upon the energy efficiency of the CHP. Rhode Island legislation has established requirements for National Grid to drive improvements in its customers’ energy efficiency and has provided for incentives. “These programs are funded by an energy efficiency charge on all customers' gas and electric bills.” National Grid’s incentive will enable the Navy to switch from oil to natural gas by using rate-payer funding. National Grid will get credit for the 20MW of solar power that Solar Breakers will sell to it to help achieve National Grid's green energy goals. National Grid wins.

Solar Breakers is a commercial company; its goal is to make money. I have found no information on the Solar Breakers other than it was established by BQ Energy specifically to do the deal with the Navy and National Grid. I’m sure the details of the commercial arrangement will be kept proprietary; that is appropriate. I’m also sure that Solar Breakers has minimum risk and maximum return on such innovative contract. Solar Breakers wins.

The RIPUC is a watchdog making sure that the utility companies toe the line with respect to Rhode Island law. They have a lot — I mean really a lot — of questions for National Grid about the $7.2 million that will be added to rates (see RIPUC docket No. 4755). The Navy, National Grid and Solar Breakers are not noted for their transparency, so getting answers is painful. If the incentive is not paid, the deal will die … so I’ll bet it will be approved.

Where does this all leave the Portsmouth citizens with the threat of a fence through their lawns? It leaves them wary of the Navy’s ambition, National Grid’s motivation and Solar Breakers’ avarice. It’s a big, creative deal that will not be stopped by the fence issue.

Please, all you winners: The deal you have come up with is complex and ingenious. You major players have used unique interlocking approaches to solve daunting issues. Your deal is big enough to accommodate a little discretion and creativity to make sure it is not tarnished by needlessly inflicting collateral damage on the Navy’s neighbors. Use some of the ingenuity you used to devise the deal to find a way to spare us the ugly fence through our lawns.

Ralph Sotak

249 Rolling Hill Road

Portsmouth