MassCEC Announces Hatfield Reaches 100kW of Solar Through Solarize Mass

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) today announced that 17 residents or businesses have contracted with Alteris Renewables Inc. to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems through MassCEC’s Solarize Mass pilot. The projects will install 105 kW of solar in Hatfield, allowing residents and business owners to install solar at discounted rates through the Solarize Mass pilot. 
“Congratulations to the town of Hatfield for surpassing this milestone, ensuring the community lower price points on solar power that will likely spur even greater adoption of solar power,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr., who chairs the MassCEC board. “As of today, Massachusetts has more than 60 megawatts of solar power installed – and Solarize Mass is another way we are spreading the solar revolution across the state.”  
“Hatfield is another example of how Solarize Massachusetts is motivating residents and business owners in these four towns to adopt solar energy as a viable way to manage energy costs and reduce dependence on fossil fuels ,” said MassCEC Executive Director Patrick Cloney. “I congratulate Hatfield in reaching the second pricing tier and hope to see more community members go solar in the next week.”
"We are very excited that Hatfield has hit the Tier 2 incentive in the Solarize Mass program. The residents of Hatfield have shown great ambition in investing in solar energy and taking advantage of the Solarize Mass price incentives. We hope that the momentum continues and they can achieve the Tier 3 incentive level,” Jim Olivia, Director of Sales at Alteris Renewables. 
As part of the Solarize Mass pilot MassCEC issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for bulk purchasing business models from solar integrators in which installation costs are based on a tiered structure that provide lower costs with increased capacity of solar installed within the community. Alteris Renewables Inc. was selected as the Solarize installer for Hatfield.
The pilot will be concluding on October 31st, and Hatfield residents have until that date to contract for a PV system in order to be eligible for the reduced installation rates.
For more information on Solarize Mass visit: www.MassCEC.com/solarizemass.
“Hatfield is pleased to have been selected to be a part of this important Solarize Pilot Program sponsored by the MassCEC that will help pioneer the way for all Massachusetts residents and business owners to invest in Solar electric power. Even with all the incentives, tax credits and SRECs (solar renewable energy credits) that make this a “no-brainer” good investment, having achieved Tier 2 pricing is a well deserved extra bonus for those who have already signed system contracts as well as those who sign up by October 31st when the program ends,” said Hatfield Energy Committee Chair Christopher Smith. “While Hatfield, the smallest population town of this state-wide program, will likely not have the largest kW total, it can be proudly said we have achieved the greatest per resident commitment to solar energy of the four towns that participated.”
"The people of Hatfield should be proud that they are helping lead our state toward a clean energy future," State Senator Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst) said. "I hope their hard work and subsequent success serves as an example for other communities that are interested in 'going green.'"
Solarize Massachusetts was launched in four pilot communities in Massachusetts this spring to encourage residents and business owners to adopt solar photovoltaic (PV) technology. MassCEC, in partnership with the Green Communities Division of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) selected the communities of Harvard, Hatfield, Scituate, and Winchester to participate in the model, which leverages education, grassroots marketing, and group purchasing to accelerate the adoption of solar PV. MassCEC has provided education and marketing support to help the four communities implement a community-wide solar PV program for residential and small-scale commercial projects, and deploy bulk-purchasing business model to reduce costs.