Wayland, Sudbury and Lincoln together recently submitted an application to the Solarize Massachusetts initiative and were selected as participants by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center! This exciting initiative means Wayland residents and small business owners who would like to consider installing solar PV (electric generating) panels will be able to do so at very competitive prices. It takes place only over the next few months, however, so those that are interested should consider acting sooner rather than later.
A kickoff meeting describing the Solarize program and the basics of solar energy, called "Solar 101", will take place Thursday, May 31 at 7pm at Lincoln-Sudbury High School. If you are unable to make the meeting, there will be other opportunities to learn about Solarize LSW (Lincoln, Sudbury, Wayland), as described below. Simply scroll down for a description of the Solarize program and links for more information.
Costs for solar are quite low now, will be lower due to the bulk purchase through Solarize, and can be lower still the more people that sign up! Please come to the Solar 101 presentation on Thursday, May 31 at 7pm to learn more about the Solarize Massachusetts program. Read on for more details.
Background
As you may already know, Solarize Massachusetts is a state-sponsored program developed by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MA CEC) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (MA DOER) to encourage residential solar photovoltaic electricity (PV) installations. The program provides a framework for municipalities, homeowners and solar installers to work collaboratively to maximize cost-savings and energy efficiency benefits.
One Installer, three towns. Wayland submitted a successful proposal together with Lincoln and Sudbury, which means we will have one installer for all three towns. The program is for residential and commercial (up to 15 kW) installations. We are currently in the process of selecting the installer. As soon as the selection is complete we can get moving with site visits and signups.
Tiered pricing. The price structure is a tiered one: with just one contract signed, we will enter the first tier (already under the average cost per Installed Watt). As more and more people sign up, we will move up into higher tiers and into more cost savings, which will be applied to all participants, even those who have already contracted.
Deadline. Only contracts with this Installer signed before 30 September 2012 will fall under the Solarize program, its conditions and benefits. This means that we have only four months to make it to the highest price tier.
Timeline
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May 31: Mass CEC presents Solar 101 to our communities (see below)
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First week of June (anticipated): Announcement of Installer, contract and price tiers, and start of site visits and contractual sign-ups
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September 30: end of program, last day to sign a contract with the Installer under this program
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Most systems will be installed within a year of the program end date
Solar 101 Presentation: Thursday, May 31, 7pm, at the Lincoln-Sudbury High School Auditorium (390 Lincoln Road, Sudbury, MA 01776, Directions to LS. Plenty of parking available), The Mass CEC will present information on solar PV systems, the Solarize program and what it means for our towns. The Solar Coaches will be there as well and lots of take-home information.
More Information and Other Events
Walden Forum on Solar
On Monday, May 21, 7 pm
At First Parish (UU, 50 Cochituate Road, Wayland, MA 01778)
Dr. Vladimir Bulovic – Co-Chair MIT Energy Initiative – presents on: Solar: Fact, Fiction and Discovery.
More info here. All welcome. Free.
Solarize L-S-W will have a table there.
Solar Coaches
Regardless of which town you live in, you can contact any or all of the three Solar Coaches, go to the office hours and events which suit you best. We are all working with the same Installer and contract. Please check our website soon for our office hours and more events.
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Wayland: Kaat Vander Straeten (kaat@transitionwayland.org) and Assistant Coach Anne Harris (solarizeway@gmail.com)
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Lincoln: Jennifer Morris (solarize@localwatt.com)
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Sudbury: Rami Alwan (solaralwan@gmail.com)
On the net
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CEC website: www.solarizemass.com/
WaylandLincolnSudbury -
Tri-town Solarize website
If you would like to sign up for updates but are not sure if you are on our email list, please click on Get Email Updates on our website. Note: if you leave us your email it will be shared with the installer.
Thank you,
Your Solar Coaches,
Jennie, Rami, Kaat & Anne
