The Solarize Massachusetts (Solarize Mass) program presents an exciting opportunity for Harvard residents. Following closely on the heels of Harvard’s designation as a Green Community, this multi-faceted program can be easily confused with aspects of Green Community status, so it’s important to clarify what the program is and is not.
The Solarize Mass program is separate from the Green Communities program, and so is the funding. However, only Green Communities were eligible for the Solarize Mass program. Harvard is one of four Green Communities selected for the program, along with Hatfield, Winchester, and Scituate. Harvard’s Solarize Mass program, called Solarize Harvard, is a joint effort between the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and Harvard volunteers, which will provide Harvard residents and businesses with access to grant monies and lower prices on solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Funds for the project come from the Renewable Energy Trust, funded by utility ratepayers.
The Green Communities program is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), and funds come from quarterly auctions of carbon credits as regulated by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
Harvard achieved Green Community status in December 2010 and was then able to apply to DOER for grants to improve the energy efficiency of several town-owned buildings. The town received a total of $141,200 toward these efforts, which must be disbursed by June 30, 2012. This $141,200 award is for town buildings and not directly for residents, so it is not connected to the Solarize Mass program.
What happens with Solarize Mass
The first step of the Solarize Mass process for homeowners or businesses is to have an energy assessment, which will recommend improvements to make the home or business more efficient and provide information about rebates and incentives to defray associated costs. Although there is no requirement to implement any of the recommendations, they are often the most cost-effective means to reducing energy use. Potential participants can sign up for an audit at www.homeenergycheck.org or www.masssave.com.
Within a week of signing up for an audit, participants should receive a call to arrange a day and time for the audit. Once the audit is performed, there will be a chance for the homeowner to review the recommended measures with the auditors and decide what to do.
It’s also important to understand that not every site will be good for a solar PV installation, due to shade, poor roof conditions, or other issues. For example, if there is too much shade due to fixed obstructions, a system will not get enough solar energy to qualify for the funding, although homeowners can still go ahead and install a system on their own if they like.
There have been some important eligibility changes to the Solarize Mass program since the pilot was first announced. Initially, there were limits per town and for the overall program. However, MassCEC reconsidered and decided not to limit the participation after realizing that a cap on participants could keep CEC from learning as much as possible during the pilot program, which they hope to roll out on a more comprehensive level after assessments of the program’s efficacy. Now, all residents are eligible for a site evaluation to determine whether a system on their property can meet a minimum requirement for capturing the available solar energy. This is an unprecedented opportunity!
To find out more about the Solarize Harvard project, residents are invited to attend a “Solar 101” informational meeting Tuesday, May 31, at 7 p.m. in Volunteers Hall at the public library. Local project leaders and program officials from the Clean Energy Center will be available to provide information and answer questions.
Eric Broadbent is part of the Harvard Energy Advisory Committee and a resident of Oak Hill Road.
