Solarize Somerville is a go!

[mem_winterhill]

Hello neighbors--

On this cold winter day, I'm delighted to share the sunny news that Somerville MA has been chosen by the MassCEC (Clean Energy Center) to be a Solarize Mass community! You can see the announcement here:
http://www.masscec.com/about-masscec/news/state-energy-officials-announce-five-new-communities-participate-solar-program

State

Comments

[pekmez]

I've already signed a contract to install solar and will have workers on my roof within the next few weeks. Will the solarize incentive coming to Somerville affect me at all?

[mem_winterhill]

'Fraid not. I'm in the same situation. A year ago when Somerville first asked if people were interested, I had replied that I was. But then when I didn't hear any more, I went ahead and got 'em anyway.

Mine are a done deal. I won't benefit from this program on the costs.

That said, I do think that we as power producers will benefit from having more neighbors involved with this. That way we'll have a community of folks to talk with, or to work with if any relevant legislation ever comes our way. I think it's also good for us to support our local solar industry if we do need services in the future too.

[somerfriend]

I wouldn't worry about it, solarize vendors are often but not always less than non solarize program vendors for a particular house. And there are other factors, and the fact that you will have an additional year of incentives (some of which you might not get later) and electricity generation.

[pekmez]

Ah, I'm not worried, and made my decision without these incentives being live -- but I was still curious whether there's anything involved that might affect the stage of the project I'm in - if there were rebates specific to the Solarize program it might not be too late to apply for them, for instance. :)

[mem_winterhill]

I just wanted to get back to you since we've had our first training. I asked them your question. As I'm in the same boat, I was also interested, of course!

They told us that there wasn't anything else associated with this program that could help existing solar homes. They did say, though, that folks who might have smaller, older systems are eligible to add on if that's something that they could use. That doesn't help either of us, but maybe there are some folks who want to add on. So that was good to know.

They gave me a giant pile of "SolarizeMass" pens, though--come by our booth at some event/festival thing that we do this summer and I'll give you one. Sorry it can't be more.