Solarize Mass. Adds 802 Projects, 5.1 MW To State
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and Department of Energy Resources announced that 802 residents and businesses signed contracts to install solar electricity systems as part of the 2012 Solarize Massachusetts Program, which ended Nov. 4.
According to the MassCEC, those systems total 5.1 megawatts of energy that will generate enough electricity to power 807 homes per year.
Solarize Mass encourages the adoption of small scale solar PV systems by allowing residents and businesses to access a five-tiered, bulk purchasing program in their communities. Of the 17 participating communities, eight are in Central Massachusetts. They have all been designated by the state as Green Communities, meeting clean energy requirements which include a commitment to reduce energy use by 20 percent.
Contracts signed and capacity for Central Massachusetts communities are:
- Acton: 36 systems, 188 kilowatts
- Hopkinton: 56 systems, 368 kilowatts
- Lincoln, Wayland/Sudbury: 137 systems, 1.28 megawatts
- Mendon: 22 systems, 171 kilowatts
- Millbury/Sutton: 22 systems, 165 kilowatts
- Shirley: 14 systems, 70 kilowatts
"The response to Solarize Mass this year was incredible," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan. "Together with industry, government and the community at the table, this program helped hundreds of residents and businesses across the commonwealth generate reliable, local sources of energy, while saving money in the process."
The group buying program, designed to increase the adoption of solar energy and reduce its cost, offered residents and businesses discounted pricing for solar. The more people sign up, the lower the price drops.
The MassCEC said the state is more than halfway to Gov. Deval Patrick's goal of having 250 megawatts of solar power by 2017, having 174 megawatts to date, not including Solarize Mass commitments.
In addition to helping the commonwealth meet that goal, jobs were also added to the clean energy sector as a result of the Solarize Mass project. According to the MassCEC, participating installers hired 32 employees and expect to add to that during the installation process.
Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
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