MA Solar Stimulus Funds 56 Solar Panel Installations
getsolar.com
How long does it take for a thriving solar industry to find uses for$4 million? About three hours, it turns out. On Friday, one of two solar rebate programs in Massachusetts opened to applications at 9:00am and closedbefore noon, all of its quarterly-allocated funds having been spokenfor. The Commonwealth Solar Stimulus Program funds solar installationsfor commercial projects 10-200 kW in size.
Governor Deval Patrick has announced that Block 2 of the Solar Stimulus–made possible byfederal ARRA funds–will go towards 56 solar installations throughout the Bay State. The installations will add 4 megawatts of solarcapacity to the state, which is working towards a goal of 250 mW ofsolar energy by 2017.
Recipients of funds included schools, farms, non-profits and smallbusinesses throughout Massachusetts. Here’s a sampling of the projectsthat received funding this time around:
- Greater Boston Food Bank, Mass Moca, Barrett Distribution, BostonCollege High School and three other projects received about $160,000each for installations that nudged the program cap of 200 kW
- Cambridge’s Shady Hill School, granted $147,130 for two solarinstallations totaling 122 kW
- Massachusetts Audubon Society, granted $30,360 for three solarinstallations totaling 20.24 kW
- VFW Parkway Car Wash in Roxbury, granted $48,340 for nearly36 kW
- Cape Cod Organic Farm, granted $14,760 for nearly 10 kW
Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles said, “Massachusetts is in the midst of a solar revolution. By the end of this year, theCommonwealth will see a nearly 20-fold increase in solar installationsover what we had when Governor Patrick took office.” WhenPatrick took office, the state had 3.5 mW of installed solar capacity;accounting for all projects currently in the pipeline, the state expects to have more than 60 mW installed by the end of 2010.
MA Solar Stimulus Funds 56 Solar Panel Installations
