§ 44-57-2 - Definitions.
SECTION 44-57-2
§ 44-57-2 Definitions. – As used in this chapter unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) "Active" means a solar renewable energy system that usesmechanical parts to collect, store, and move heat;
(2) "Applicant" means a party who files a Rhode Island taxreturn and applies for a residential alternative energy device tax credit underthis section;
(3) "Application form" means the form that goes to the stateenergy office that will determine if systems meet the requirements for this taxcredit;
(4) "Array" means any number of photovoltaic modulesconnected together electrically to provide a single electrical output;
(5) "BTU" means British thermal unit;
(6) "Consumer disclosure" means a form provided by the stateenergy office describing the renewable energy system. The contractor shall fillthis form out and give it to the buyer of a renewable energy system. It shallshow estimated energy savings of the renewable energy system, requiredconservation items, required maintenance, and freeze protection information andother data required by the state energy office;
(7) "Consumer information" means literature that is providedby the state energy office to contractors, solar dealers, and consumersinforming them about the tax credit contained in this chapter and generalconsumer information;
(8) "Contractor" means a person or company who sells and/orinstalls renewable energy systems;
(9) "Contractors' certification" means a contractor systemcertification issued by the state energy office to a contractor for a specificrenewable energy system. The system shall allow the contractor to install thatdevice for the tax credit without getting a separate system certification foreach job;
(10) "Contractors' registration board" means the boardestablished pursuant to the provisions of chapter 65 of title 5 responsible forissuing contractors' registration numbers and cards to contractors who arerequired by state law to be registered. The board is also responsible forensuring that all registered contractors abide by the guidelines of thecontractors' registration board;
(11) "Director" means the director of the Rhode Island stateenergy office or the director's representative;
(12) "Domestic water heating" means the heating of water usedin a dwelling for bathing, clothes washing, dishwashing, and other relatedfunctions;
(13) "Dwelling" means real property inhabited as a principalor secondary residence and located within this state. "Dwelling" includes, butis not limited to, an individual unit within multiple unit residential housing.For purposes of this subdivision: (i) "Principal residence" means the dwellingowned by the applicant who on the date of the application has legal title to adwelling, including the mortgagor under a duly recorded mortgage of realproperty, the trustor under a duly recorded deed of trust, or a purchaser undera duly recorded contract for the purchase of real property, and who inhabitsthe dwelling for no fewer than fourteen (14) days in the calendar year forwhich the credit is claimed;
(ii) "Secondary residence" means vacation property owned bythe applicant;
(iii) Primary or secondary residences do not include motorhomes or recreational vehicles;
(14) "Grid interconnect form" means the form required on"grid-connected photovoltaic systems" that is signed by the contractor, themaster electrician who makes the grid interconnection, and the homeowner. Thisform shall be sent to both the participating utility company and the stateenergy office;
(15) "Hybrid" means a renewable energy system that uses someactive and passive elements as part of the system;
(16) "Installing contractor" means the contractor orsubcontractor who actually installs the renewable energy system. This may ormay not be the same person or company as the solar dealer;
(17) "Inverter" means the device used to convert directcurrent (DC) to alternating current (AC) in a photovoltaic system;
(18) "kWh" means kilowatt-hour; one kWh = 3,413 BTUs;
(19) "Module" means the smallest non-divisible self-containedphysical structure housing interconnected photovoltaic cells and providing asingle DC electrical output;
(20) "MM" means million;
(21) "Net cost" means what the applicant paid to purchase therenewable energy system. Net cost includes permit and inspection fees. Netcosts may include the value of federal tax credits, grants, or utilityincentives. Net cost shall not include service contracts, rebates, discounts,or refunds;
(22) "Owner-built" means a renewable energy system that isassembled and installed on an owner's property and with an owner's labor only;
(23) "Passive" means a renewable energy system that relies onheated liquid or air rising to collect, store, and move heat without mechanicaldevices;
(24) "Placed in service" means the date when a renewableenergy system is ready and available to produce useable energy;
(25) "Solar dealer" means the person or company who signs acontract or proposal with a customer to provide and/or install solar equipment;
(26) "Solar domestic hot water system" means a configurationof solar collectors, pump, heat exchanger, and storage tank designed to heatwater. System types include forced circulation, integral collector storage,thermosyphon, and self-pumping. For the purpose of determining system yields, aconfiguration of components is considered a new system if changes occur in anyof the following: type or size of collectors; heat exchanger type oreffectiveness; size of storage tank; or system type;
(27) "State energy office" means the Rhode Island stateenergy office, also known as the governor's office of energy assistance, withinthe department of administration;
(28) "System approval" means an approval given to renewableenergy systems that meet all of the requirements of the state energy office;
(29) "System certification" means certification that arenewable energy system as described in the application meets criteria for thetax credit;
(30) "Used equipment" means any solar tank or collector whichpreviously has been installed or any piece of equipment not under currentmanufacturers' warranty;
(31) "Verification form" means a form filed with the divisionof taxation (upon request) by an applicant claiming eligibility for the taxcredit. A contractor shall submit a copy of the form to the state energy office;
(32) "Watt" means the electrical unit of power or rate ofdoing work. The rate of energy transfer equivalent to one ampere of electricalcurrent at one-volt potential;
(33) "Wh" means watt hours-power consumed by a load over aspecified time. As used herein, 1,000 Wh = one kilowatt-hour (kWh);
(34) "Wind energy system" means a system that produceselectricity through the use of wind generators or wind turbines. Theelectricity shall be used directly, as in water pumping applications, or shallbe stored in batteries for household usage. Wind energy systems shall be usedalone, or they shall be used as part of a hybrid system, in which their outputis combined with photovoltaics and/or a fossil fuel generator;
(35) "Wind energy system dealer" means the person or companywho signs a contract or proposal with a customer to provide and/or install windenergy equipment;
(36) "Wp" means Watts peak, or the rated maximum power outputof a photovoltaic device measured under standard conditions of twenty-eightdegrees C (28° C) cell temperature and 1000 W/m2 incident sunlight; and
(37) "Geothermal system" means a system that produces andstores energy to heat buildings, cool buildings or produces hot water.