R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-26.4-1: Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to facilitate and promote installation of customer-sited, grid-connected generation of renewable energy; to support and encourage customer development of renewable generation systems; to reduce environmental and siting impacts; to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change by encouraging the local siting of renewable energy projects; to diversify the state’s energy generation sources; to stimulate economic development; to improve distribution system resilience and reliability; and to reduce distribution system costs.