June 11, 2025
Battery Energy Storage
Frequently asked questions
Does RIC Energy engage with the community when developing solar and energy storage projects?
RIC Energy actively engages with local residents and officials to ensure each solar and energy storage project aligns with the long-term goals and values of the community. We are committed to developing projects that not only deliver clean, locally generated energy but also create meaningful local benefits. Community input is a core part of our development process, and we take pride in being a respectful, responsible neighbor throughout the life of every project.
We engage with our partners and the communities we serve from the earliest stages of development through construction and into long-term operations. Our dedicated team works closely with local stakeholders throughout the entire project lifecycle to ensure open communication and to maximize the positive social impact of each project. Building lasting, collaborative relationships is central to our approach.
How do solar projects benefit local communities?
Solar projects provide steady, reliable benefits for their communities in a variety of ways. Some examples include:
Additional revenue into local communities - Solar projects provide an additional source of tax revenue for schools and other local government services, with little demand for public services themselves. Increased tax revenues from solar projects can also have the added benefit of enabling property taxes to remain low for local homeowners.
Increased energy security and reduced energy costs - Solar projects help diversify our energy mix, adding resilience and security to local energy infrastructure, reducing dependence on imported energy sources, and drive down electricity costs.
Improved environmental health - Solar projects generate clean, reliable energy with zero air emissions for healthier communities. Recent studies have found that this is delivering concrete health benefits and avoiding premature mortalities from air pollution. Furthermore, research has demonstrated solar facilities can reduce chemical applications typically used in farming, improve pollinator habitats, reduce nutrient runoff, and retain stormwater compared to other land uses.
New jobs - Construction of a solar project requires hundreds of on-site jobs over the course of a year or more. Our projects look to attract local workers or contract with local businesses to support the construction and operation of its solar facilities. The solar industry employs more than 279,000 (and growing!) Americans across the U.S., and the manufacturing industry is increasing production capabilities within the U.S. to support the local supply chain.
How do battery energy storage projects benefit local communities?
Minimization of power outages - Energy storage increases grid flexibility and helps provide uninterrupted power, including during extreme weather events.
Electricity cost reduction - Storing energy when electricity prices are low and then discharging when demand is high increases supply during peak periods as well as helps lower overall costs.
Grid resiliency - Energy storage enhances reliability, ensuring the seamless delivery of electricity to consumers and businesses especially when they need it most.
Increased viability of affordable clean energy - Energy storage enables powering the grid using low-cost renewables, even when the sun is not shining.
Local economic support - Energy storage projects boost local economies and broaden tax bases. U.S. utility-scale energy storage projects deliver more than $580 million annually to local communities in the form of tax revenue and land lease payments. The rapidly growing industry currently supports more than 75,000 jobs through development, construction, and maintenance of storage facilities.
