RGS Energy, a nationwide leader of turnkey solar energy solutions for residential, commercial, and utility customers, has been selected by eight additional Massachusetts communities participating in the second round of the 2013 Solarize Mass program to bring solar electricity to home and business owners. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Green Communities Division of the MA Department of Energy Resource facilitated the selection of RGS Energy.
In partnership with MassCEC, RGS Energy will work with Solarize Mass Community Solar Coaches to implement the Solarize Mass program in the communities of Adams, Great Barrington-Egremont, Salem-Swampscott and Williamsburg-Whately-Chesterfield.
The program is designed to increase the adoption of solar energy and further reduce the overall cost of solar power. It offers residents and businesses discounted pricing for solar through tiered community-based incentives, and the savings grow as more members of a community participate.
RGS Energy will offer participating Solarize Mass home and business owners the options to either purchase the solar electricity systems directly or enter into a lease or power purchase agreement.
Since its launch in 2011, the Solarize Mass program has resulted in more than 1,500 residents and business owners in 31 communities contracting to install more than 9.8 megawatts of solar electricity. In addition, the number of small-scale, solar electricity projects in almost every community doubled as a direct result of the program.
In three of the 10 communities participating in the first round of the 2013 Solarize Mass program, RGS Energy aided in contracting more than 1.5 MW, representing approximately 40% of both the number of contracts and total kilowatts contracted for the entire Solarize program.
“RGS Energy has deep roots in Massachusetts and our local teams have installed solar electricity systems on thousands of homes, businesses and educational facilities since 2006,” said RGS Energy CEO Kam Mofid. “Given the more than 1.5 megawatts of solar projects generated by the first round of the Solarize Mass program, we’re excited about our even stronger prospect in round two.”
RGS Energy (operating as Real Goods Solar and Alteris Renewables) also successfully participated in the 2011 Solarize Mass Pilot program and Solarize Connecticut pilot program. This experience with prior Solarize programs positions RGS Energy with valuable operational efficiencies that address Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s newest solar installation goal of 1,600 MW by 2020.
“The momentum around this program has been building since it was launched in 2011,” noted MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton. “Community-by-community, we’re working with local leaders and volunteers to spread the word on the economic and environmental benefits of solar power.”
The Solarize Mass programs in Adams, Great Barrington-Egremont, Salem-Swampscott and Williamsburg-Whately-Chesterfield will run through the end of June 30, 2014. Home and business owners will have until then to sign up and lock in their savings.
— Solar Builder magazine
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