The spatial clustering of utility-scale solar in Rhode Island

Utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) development has expanded rapidly across compact and densely settled regions, raising questions about how solar installations are spatially organized. Despite accelerated growth in utility-scale PV in Rhode Island during the mid-2010s, no statewide spatial statistical assessment of solar siting patterns has previously been conducted. This study addresses that gap by providing the first comprehensive and reproducible spatial point-pattern analysis of utility-scale PV installations in Rhode Island. Using a verified dataset of 119 ground-mounted utility-scale PV sites, we apply a multi-method spatial statistical framework including centrality measures, nearest-neighbor distances, Ripley’s K and L(r) functions, Getis-Ord Gi∗ hotspot analysis and kernel density estimation. Results consistently reject spatial randomness and reveal statistically significant clustering across multiple spatial scales. Solar development in Rhode Island is directionally structured with a dominant north–south orientation and slight southwest–northeast tilt. Results show persistent hotspot regions across multiple neighborhood levels and bandwidth specifications. Density surfaces further indicate uneven spatial concentration rather than dispersed deployment. This descriptive study does not identify the causal drivers of siting decisions. Instead, it establishes a spatial statistical baseline that clarifies where clustering occurs and at what spatial scales, providing the baseline for future study on regulation, infrastructure planning, and renewable energy siting policy.