Rhode Island
Grade distribution
Overview
Rhode Island has 5 counties tracked in the SitePath solar permitting index. 4 (80%) are graded A or B, meaning they present low to moderate permitting risk for utility-scale solar projects. 1 county sits in the C range — moderate risk with meaningful process uncertainty.
The most favorable jurisdictions in Rhode Island include Washington County (grade B), Providence County (grade B), Newport County (grade B). The most challenging include Newport County (grade B), Bristol County (grade B), Kent County (grade C).
At the state level, Rhode Island's RPS 100% by 2033 commitment creates a supportive macro environment for solar development, though county-level boards retain significant discretion over individual project approvals. No Rhode Island counties currently have an active utility-scale solar moratorium.
All counties — sorted by risk score (best first)
| County | Grade | Score | Trajectory | Moratorium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | B | 37 | ↓ | |
| Providence County | B | 38 | ↑ | |
| Newport County | B | 40 | — | |
| Bristol County | B | 40 | ↓ | |
| Kent County | C | 42 | ↓ |
See the full interactive map
County grades, scores, and ordinance data are also available on the interactive county map with filtering by grade, state, and risk factor.
Open the county map →About SitePath scoring
Every U.S. county is scored 0–100 on solar permitting risk (lower is friendlier to development). The grade is a weighted composite of compliance stringency, market saturation, regulatory trajectory, and data uncertainty. Every figure traces back to a primary government document. Read the full methodology →
SitePath Intelligence is a research platform. Data verified as of 2026-05-02. Scores update on a quarterly review cycle.