Residential

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Green Communities Division today announced a $500,000 pilot program to help local communities identify energy efficiency, renewable energy and other clean energy strategies to meet local energy needs.
The Community Energy Strategies Program will provide technical and financial assistance for up to four municipalities and at least one regional planning authority to help identify, prioritize and enable a mix of clean energy strategies and incentives best suited to address local interests, needs, resources and opportunities for clean energy development.
The program is designed to help communities assess and evaluate clean energy investments ranging from high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment and insulation to wind turbines and solar photovoltaic systems.
“Many Massachusetts communities have strong interest in pursuing clean energy development, but lack the technical and financial capacity to identify and take full advantage of local clean energy opportunities,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan. “The program will enable local communities to maximize their clean energy potential.”
“This pilot program is one more way for DOER to help communities identify resources that are available to assist them in growing their clean energy portfolio,” said DOER Commissioner Mark Sylvia. “We hope that our partnership with MassCEC will lead to an increase of wind, solar, anaerobic digestion and other clean energy projects, which will benefit local residents and Massachusetts as a whole.”
“An ideal approach to clean energy employs a combination of energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy generation,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton McDevitt. “Projects that work for one community may not work for another, and thus this program is designed to help municipalities find the best projects for their communities.”
Massachusetts lies at the end of the energy pipeline – lacking indigenous supplies of traditional energy resources. As a result, Massachusetts has some of the highest energy costs in the nation. Of the $22 billion Massachusetts spends annually on energy, $18 billion of that goes to out-of-state and foreign sources.
The state’s growing renewable energy portfolio and emphasis on energy efficiency – the state’s “first fuel” - keeps more of that spending in the Massachusetts economy, while creating local jobs. As a result of Massachusetts’ progressive clean energy policies, clean energy jobs in Massachusetts have grown by 11.2 percent from 2011 to 2012, according to the 2012 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) CEO Alicia Barton McDevitt today announced a new program to assist commercial or non-profit building owners in reducing their water heating bills up to 20 percent by installing solar hot water systems.
The program, a partnership between MassCEC and Medford-based Paradigm Partners, will help building owners install solar hot water systems on their roofs with little or no upfront costs. MassCEC will provide a $250,000 grant for the program, with Paradigm Partners providing $250,000 in in-kind services, while also leveraging more than $800,000 in private investment.
Under this new model, private third parties will install, own and operate the solar hot water systems, which use the sun to preheat water for a variety of building uses, displacing fossil fuel use. The building owner then agrees to purchase the energy generated by the system at a competitive and stable rate.
“By pioneering a third-party ownership model, this program will drive down or eliminate upfront cost to building owners who install commercial solar hot water systems,” said Barton McDevitt. “By making commercial solar hot water systems more affordable to building owners, we can increase their adoption and help create a cleaner energy future for everyone.”
Paradigm Partners – a turnkey provider of renewable heating and cooling systems – will be responsible for deploying between six and 10 large-scale systems throughout the state.
“We’re excited to deploy new strategies that directly replace expensive, dirty and inefficient fossil fuels like heating oil,” said Michael Hogan, managing partner at Paradigm Partners. “I applaud MassCEC for continuing to lead the country by focusing on the most critical point in the value chain, where energy users benefit from clean technology on their buildings.”
“This is great news for the solar heating and cooling industry. Massachusetts is one of the fastest-growing markets for solar heating and cooling, and this new commercial program will lead to more local jobs,” said Carrie Hitt, vice president of state affairs at Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). “There are 50 solar heating and cooling companies located in Massachusetts, including at least six manufacturing sites, representing jobs along all sectors of the solar supply chain.”

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) CEO Alicia Barton McDevitt and Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Commissioner Mark Sylvia today announced the launch of a new $100,000 pilot incentive program to assist residents in trading their inefficient wood-, wood pellet- or coal-burning stoves for safer, higher-efficiency models.
Residents who qualify for the program – which is a partnership between MassCEC and DOER – will receive a voucher of either $1,000 or $2,000 to replace older non-EPA certified stove models with high efficiency stoves that use less wood and release less air pollution.
“Clean energy adoption can sometimes come from places you least expect it, but have a big impact on our energy costs, our environment and our health,” said Barton McDevitt. “Newer stoves are more efficient, save families money each month on wood costs and provide better air quality that keeps more people healthy.”
Until Jan. 17, 2013, this program will be open only to low-income residents who provide proof of enrollment in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), MassHealth or Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
After Jan. 17, the program will open up to all eligible Massachusetts residents who have a qualifying woodstove to trade in.
Low-income residents are eligible for a $2,000 rebate, while other Massachusetts residents are eligible for a $1,000 rebate.
“We hope this program inspires people across the Commonwealth to upgrade their wood heating systems and save themselves money, make their homes more comfortable and the air cleaner,” said Commissioner Sylvia.
“This program is a great example of how state agencies work together to support our clean air goals,” said Kenneth Kimmell, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, which is charged with ensuring clean air across the Commonwealth. “Because new woodstoves emit approximately 70 percent less pollution than older, conventional stoves, MassDEP worked with our partner agencies to ensure that the change-out program targets the less-efficient stoves and significantly reduces local particulate emissions.”
Residents can participate in the program by filling out an online application or submitting a paper application. Once it is approved, MassCEC will issue a voucher, which can be redeemed at any participating woodstove dealer in Massachusetts for a discount on the retail price of the stove. MassCEC will then reimburse retailers for the value of the voucher.
To qualify, residents must already have an existing woodstove to trade in and must receive approval for a rebate before purchasing the woodstove. Woodstoves purchased before a rebate is awarded are not eligible for the program.
Residents can apply for a voucher, and access more information on the program, by visiting www.masscec.com/woodstove.
Funding for this program comes from the 2010 Alternative Compliance Payments (ACP) Spending Plan.  ACPs are paid by electric retail suppliers if they have insufficient Renewable Energy Certificates to meet their compliance obligations under the Renewable Portfolio Standard programs. DOER establishes the plan for use of these funds to support clean energy development in the Commonwealth.

Popular energy efficiency program funds close to 100 new stoves, second round of funding set for Jan. 18
Due to overwhelming demand, the Commonwealth Woodstove Change-Out Pilot Program – which provides rebates for the replacement of old, inefficient wood-, wood pellet- or coal-burning stoves – is closed and will no longer accept applications for the program’s first funding block of $100,000.
The pilot program, which was launched by the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) on Dec. 27, has exhausted its initial round funding after 12 days. Completed applications that have already been submitted electronically by Jan. 7 and paper applications postmarked by Jan. 7, will be honored as part of the initial round of funding.
Applications received after Jan. 7 or incomplete applications submitted by Jan. 7 will not be accepted. Applications may be resubmitted on or after Jan. 18, either by mail or electronically at apply.masscec.com once the second round of funding becomes available. More details on the application process for the second round will be added to www.masscec.com/woodstove as they become available.
DOER, MassCEC and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection are in the process of launching a second round of funding available beginning Jan. 18.
The Commonwealth Woodstove Change-Out Program provides vouchers of $1,000 or $2,000 to replace older non-EPA certified stove models with high-efficiency stoves that use less wood and release less air pollution. To qualify, residents must already have an existing woodstove to trade in and must receive approval for a rebate before purchasing the woodstove. Woodstoves purchased before a rebate is awarded are not eligible for the program.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) today announced the launch of the 2013 Solarize Massachusetts (Solarize Mass®) program. Communities wanting to participate in the grassroots marketing, education and group buying program can now submit applications.
The program designed to increase the adoption of solar energy, further reduce the overall cost of solar power – offers residents and businesses discounted pricing for solar. The more people sign up, the greater the savings for everyone.
“This bulk purchasing program not only saves residents and businesses money, it creates local jobs and expands our use of home-grown energy sources,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan.
“We’re excited to build on the momentum of last year’s program, which brought together state and local officials with residents, volunteers and the solar industry,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton McDevitt. “By bringing everyone to the table, we were able to spread the word about the economic and environmental benefits of solar power.”
The program is open to all Massachusetts communities, including those designated by DOER as Green Communities, which meet five clean energy requirements and commit to reducing energy use by 20 percent.
“I expect the 2013 Solarize Mass program to build on the incredible growth in solar installations in Massachusetts last year,” said DOER Commissioner Mark Sylvia. “This community-based model will continue to make clean, renewable power available in homes and businesses in an exciting and accessible way.”
Individual cities, towns and groups of contiguous municipalities can apply by downloading a request for proposals and applying by Feb. 20
DOER will host a webinar detailing the program and answering questions at 1 p.m. on Jan. 23. To register for the webinar, visit https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/787928799
Last year, 17 cities and towns participated in the program, with 803 residents and businesses signing contracts to install solar electricity systems with the capacity to generate 5.1 megawatts of clean, renewable energy – enough to power the equivalent of 807 average Massachusetts homes annually.
The program was also directly responsible for the creation of 32 new jobs, boosting an already booming clean energy sector that saw 11.2 percent job growth in Massachusetts from 2011 to 2012, according to the 2012 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report.
Under the leadership of Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, Massachusetts set a goal of achieving 250 megawatts of solar PV by 2017. As a result of the Solarize Mass program and other incentives the state is more than halfway to its goal – with 194 megawatts of solar PV installed to date, the equivalent of powering 30,684 homes for a year or cutting the emissions equivalent to taking 20,858 cars off the road.
Massachusetts lies at the end of the energy pipeline – lacking indigenous supplies of coal, natural gas and oil. As a result, Massachusetts has some of the highest energy costs in the nation. Of the $22 billion Massachusetts spends annually on energy, $18 billion of that goes to out-of-state and foreign sources. Increasingly, the state’s base of renewable energy through programs like Solarize Mass keeps more of that money in the local economy, while creating jobs at the same time.

Communities from Williamstown to Bourne will participate in Solarize Mass (Solarize Mass®); program contracted hundreds of solar energy systems in 2012
Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan today announced the 10 communities that will participate in the first round of the 2013 Solarize Massachusetts program (Solarize Mass), a grassroots clean energy marketing, education and group-buying program.
The program – run by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) – is designed to increase the adoption of solar energy and further reduce the overall cost of solar power, and offers residents and businesses discounted pricing for solar. The more people in a particular community who participate, the greater the savings for everyone in that city or town.
“This year’s program will build on the success of the last two years, saving residents and businesses money while creating local jobs,” said Secretary Sullivan.
Participating in the first round of the 2013 Solarize Mass program are Bourne, Brookline, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Lee, Medford, Medway, Newton, Northampton and Williamstown. Carlisle and Chelmsford will be participating in the program as a group.
“This program brings together residents, local and state officials, and solar industry workers to form a truly grassroots effort,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton. “With everyone at the table, we can spread the word about the economic and environmental benefits of solar power across ten communities.”
“This new round of Solarize Mass continues to build on the clean energy leadership we’ve seen over and over again at the community level,” said DOER Commissioner Mark Sylvia. “When neighbors encourage neighbors, it creates local excitement and greater participation. This grassroots commitment is fueling Massachusetts leadership in energy efficiency, clean energy jobs growth, and renewable energy adoption.”
MassCEC and DOER will work with community volunteers and municipal representatives in each community to select a designated installer through a competitive bidding process. Eight of the communities participating in this round (Brookline, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Medford, Medway, Newton, Northampton and Williamstown) are Green Communities, a designation made by DOER to cities and towns that meet five clean energy requirements, including a commitment to reduce their energy use by 20 percent and to streamline the responsible siting of renewable energy such as solar photovoltaics. Bourne and Lee are the first non-Green Communities to participate in Solarize Mass since it first launched as a pilot program in 2011.
Last year, 17 cities and towns participated in Solarize Mass, with 749 residents and businesses signing contracts to install solar electricity systems with the capacity to generate 4.8 megawatts of clean, renewable energy – enough to power the equivalent of 719 average Massachusetts homes annually. During the 2012 Solarize Mass program, participating customers were able to purchase solar electricity systems for 20 percent less than the statewide average price at the beginning of the program. The program last year also created at least 32 new jobs.
Due to state renewable energy incentive programs like Solarize Mass, residential solar electricity prices dropped 28 percent in Massachusetts in 2012, according to a report issued by the Solar Energy Industries Association in March 2013. This was the second biggest drop in the nation last year.
Under the leadership of Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray, Massachusetts set a goal of achieving 250 megawatts of solar PV by 2017. As a result of the Solarize Mass program and other incentives, the state is close to reaching its goal – with 243 megawatts of solar electricity installed to date, the equivalent of powering 38,000 homes for a year.
Massachusetts sits at the end of the energy pipeline, spending billions of dollars annually to import all of its fossil fuel based energy sources from places like South America, Canada, and the Middle East. That is lost economic opportunity that Massachusetts stands poised to reclaim through investments in home-grown renewable energy programs like Solarize.
 
About Solarize Mass
Solarize Mass, which is a partnership between MassCEC and DOER’s Green Communities Division, is a grassroots model that encourages the adoption of small scale solar projects.  Follow the Twitter hash tag #SolarizeMass for more information.

Solarize Mass created 32 jobs, 5.1 megawatts, Southwick’s Zoo among projects

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) today announced that 802 residents and businesses signed contracts to install solar electricity systems as part of the 2012 Solarize Massachusetts Program (Solarize Mass), which concluded Nov. 4.

The systems contracted through Solarize Mass constitute 5.1 megawatts of clean, renewable energy that will generate enough electricity to power 807 Massachusetts homes annually. The program also created 32 jobs, fueling an already expanding clean energy sector. 

“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.

“Others are duplicating this innovative program, which empowers communities to advocate for and take advantage of cost-effective, clean and local sources of energy for residents and businesses,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton McDevitt. “Saving money while avoiding the environmental and public health impacts of fossil-fuel based generation is an absolute win-win for the economy and the environment.”

This year, 17 communities – Acton, Arlington, Boston, Hopkinton, Lenox, Lincoln, Melrose, Mendon, Millbury, Montague, Newburyport, Palmer, Pittsfield, Shirley, Sudbury, Sutton and Wayland – participated in Solarize Mass, which 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. The communities are all Green Communities, a designation made by the Department of Energy Resources to communities that meet five clean energy requirements, including a commitment to reduce their energy use by 20 percent.

“Thanks to these leading Green Communities, affordable solar energy is available on Main Streets across Massachusetts,” said DOER Commissioner Mark Sylvia.

Arlington was the single community with the most contracts signed for the largest capacity, with 157 residents and businesses signing contracts for an expected generation of 718 kilowatts.

Contracts signed and capacity for other communities was:

Among the projects contracted as part of Solarize Mass this year is an 11.5 kilowatt system on the roof of the Southwick’s Zoo Gift Shop in Mendon.

"We're thrilled to take part in the Solarize Massachusetts program," said Southwick's Zoo Curator of Conservation and Education Betsey Brewer. "Having the solar panels in such a visible location will help us fulfill our mission of conservation, research and education."

“The Southwick’s Zoo project is one example of the way solar energy can be adopted across the Commonwealth,” said Matt Arner, president of SolarFlair, the Framingham-based company that will install the system. “We’re excited to take part in this project, which we hope will increase awareness of the solar potential here in Massachusetts.”

The installers participating in the Solarize Mass program – Astrum Solar, New England Clean Energy, Next Step Living with Roof Diagnostics, Northeast Solar Design Associates, Second Generation Energy, SolarCity, SolarFlair and SunBug Solar – hired 32 employees as a direct result of the Solarize Mass program, with more hires expected during the installation process.

Clean energy jobs in Massachusetts have grown by 11.2 percent from 2011 to 2012, according to the 2012 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report.

Under the leadership of Governor Deval Patrick, Massachusetts set a goal of achieving 250 megawatts of solar PV by 2017. As a result of the Solarize Mass program and other incentives, the state is more than halfway to its goal – with 174 megawatts of solar PV installed to date (not including the Solarize Mass commitments), the equivalent of powering 27,521 homes for a year or cutting the emissions equivalent to taking 18,708 cars of the road.

Massachusetts lies at the end of the energy pipeline – lacking indigenous supplies of coal, natural gas and oil. As a result, Massachusetts has some of the highest energy costs in the nation. Of the $22 billion Massachusetts spends annually on energy, $18 billion of that goes to out-of-state and foreign sources. Increasingly, the state’s base of renewable energy through programs like Solarize Mass keeps more of that money in the local economy, while creating jobs at the same time.

As part of a statewide effort to reach Governor Patrick's goal of 250 megawatts (MW) of solar power installed by 2017, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) today launched the second round of its Solarize Massachusetts (Solarize Mass) program. MassCEC is now accepting applications from designated Green Communities interested in participating in Solarize Mass, which encourages residents and business owners to adopt solar photovoltaic (PV) technology through a program model that includes grassroots marketing, education and group purchasing.

“Today you’ll find solar projects in 328 out of our 351 cities and towns. This growth is not by accident, its happened under the leadership of Governor Patrick through a suite of policies and programs designed to grow the state’s solar business sector and put the cost of solar power within the reach of more people than ever before,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr., who chairs MassCEC’s board of directors and whose office includes DOER. “Solarize Massachusetts will take these efforts to a new level, catalyzing wider adoption of solar energy and greater energy independence through the power of community connections.”

The Solarize Mass Pilot, which launched in the spring of 2011, deployed a grassroots, volunteer-driven effort that is bringing solar power to 162 Massachusetts homes at discounted rates. By utilizing grassroots organizing, civic engagement, bulk purchasing, and educational outreach, the towns of Harvard, Hatfield, Scituate and Winchester helped their communities install a total of 829 kW of solar energy. The solar capacity installed through the Solarize Mass Pilot will save 651 metric tons of CO2 annually. During their lifetimes, these PV systems will save over 13,000 metric tons of CO2, equivalent to the emissions of more than 2,500 cars.

“Solarize Mass was incredibly successful in the first four towns and is empowering residents to drive growth of solar in their own communities, while helping us reach Governor Patrick’s solar energy goals,” said MassCEC Chief Executive Officer Patrick Cloney, “By spurring engagement and encouraging neighbor-to-neighbor advocacy for solar energy education and adoption, we look forward to helping more communities across Massachusetts become vibrant solar towns.”

MassCEC, in partnership with the Green Communities Division of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) today launched the second iteration of Solarize Mass. MassCEC and DOER will select at least ten communities to participate. Selected communities will be announced in mid March. MassCEC will then issue 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. For each of the Solarize Mass communities, the chosen installer will partner with MassCEC and the community to provide free solar site assessments, different ownership (or financing) models, and installation services.

MassCEC will provide education and marketing support to help the selected communities implement a community-wide solar PV program for residential and small-scale commercial projects. MassCEC will provide technical support and host free educational meetings in the communities to educate people about the benefits of installing solar and to drive interest in implementing the technology.

On February 27 MassCEC will hold a bidder’s conference for green communities interested in applying to Solarize Mass. The bidder’s conference will take place at Volunteers Hall at the Harvard Library at 4 Pond Road in Harvard at 2:00 p.m. and will also be broadcast via webinar. Communities interested in applying should participate to learn more about the program, hear from the communities that participated in the first Solarize Mass pilot, and to get their questions answered by Solarize Mass staff.

Click here to download the Solarize Mass RFP to Green Communities.

To register for the webinar visit: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/410326122

To RSVP for the live meeting email your contact information to solarize@masscec.com  

“It is exciting to see this program extend to more of our Green Communities, which are already leading the way in Massachusetts with their commitments to energy reduction and development of clean energy technologies,” DOER Commissioner Mark Sylvia said.  “Solarize Massachusetts provides another opportunity for cities and towns to strengthen their commitment to a cleaner energy future.”

As a result of the Commonwealth Solar rebate programs launched in 2008 and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for solar on water treatment facilities and other public buildings, Massachusetts saw a more than 20-fold increase in solar PV installations between 2007 and 2011. Currently, there are nearly 77 MW of solar energy installed in Massachusetts, and an additional 40 MW under contract for installation, up from 3.5 MW when Governor Patrick took office.

The Commonwealth Solar rebate programs also helped spur a vibrant solar industry in Massachusetts. Overall, clean energy jobs are growing in Massachusetts according to the 2011 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report, which finds a total of 4,909 clean energy businesses in Massachusetts that employ more than 64,000 workers. These companies reported a 6.7 percent job growth rate from July 2010 to July 2011. Solar energy is the most prominent renewable energy technology area for Massachusetts clean energy companies, with more than two in three renewable energy employers working with solar energy technologies.