Nexamp and TurningPoint Energy have successfully converted a former golf course in Warren, Rhode Island, into a solar power facility with a capacity of 9.4 megawatts. The project began construction in 2022 after several years of development and community approval, marking a significant shift in land use by transforming underutilized space into a source of renewable energy.

The site, previously known as Windmill Lane, was a historic 3-par, 9-hole golf course that faced closure due to increasing competition from new projects and a nationwide decline in golf participation. Over the past fifteen years, approximately 1,000 golf courses have shut down across the United States, highlighting the need for innovative land utilization.

The new solar facility consists of two arrays featuring over 17,000 solar modules. This installation not only provides carbon-free energy to the grid but also offers financial benefits to local nonprofits by reducing their energy costs. Salar Naini, President of TurningPoint Energy, stated that the project revitalizes the land and plays a critical role in promoting a more sustainable future for Rhode Island.

This solar power plant is Nexamp’s largest project to date in the state, and it is part of Rhode Island’s virtual net metering program. This program allows local schools, nonprofits, and municipalities to benefit from the energy produced. A total of 15 local organizations have signed energy sales agreements with Nexamp, furthering collaboration between the company and the community.

The project is expected to generate approximately 11.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually throughout its lifespan, contributing to Rhode Island’s goal of achieving 100% renewable energy. Chris Kearns, Acting Commissioner of the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources, praised the initiative, emphasizing its importance in meeting the state’s climate objectives.

As one of the smallest states in the U.S., Rhode Island boasts nearly 800 megawatts of installed solar capacity and over 1 gigawatt of total carbon-free electricity generation. The state’s clean energy portfolio also includes more than 400 megawatts of offshore wind, 148 megawatts of onshore wind, 11 megawatts of hydropower, and 35 megawatts of landfill gas-to-energy production.

This innovative project serves as a model for repurposing land in alignment with environmental sustainability goals, demonstrating how former recreational spaces can be transformed into vital sources of clean energy.