Beacon Hill keeps solar working … for now
Sean Gallagher
A legislative log-jam blocking billions of dollars in solar investment to Massachusetts' economy was broken this month when Gov. Charlie Baker signed a new law, raising the caps on the number of solar projects Bay Staters are allowed to power their homes and businesses by 3 percentage points.
In supporting this pro-solar policy, Baker and state lawmakers showed leadership and a commitment to restarting an economic engine by expanding net metering. In a separate move, Gov. Baker also extended the state's solar incentive program, Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs), for another nine months.
Industry and lawmakers should continue to collaborate so that Massachusetts' businesses, homeowners, churches and schools always have the option to invest in clean and affordable solar.
As of today, there are more than 1,000 megawatts of solar energy installed in Massachusetts. Beacon Hill's work to continue the expansion of the commonwealth's development of solar will allow more than 500 solar projects valued at $617 million to bring in revenue to the local economy that is ripe for more solar activity.
With the stalled pipeline of solar projects finally allowed to move forward, more than 200 megawatts of new capacity are just around the corner. But here's the catch – at the rate the solar industry is growing, we expect the state to hit the new cap in as little as year, as caps can't contain the number of people wanting and deserving access to clean, renewable, affordable power.
Massachusetts ranks sixth out of all states in installed solar capacity, and the state should allow solar to continue to grow and thrive.
The industry looks forward to working with state leadership to ensure solar has a long-term path where businesses can make solid investment decisions based on a more certain future.
Sean Gallagher is vice president of state affairs for the national Solar Energy Industries Association.
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