Clean Energy Collective (CEC) has announced that it is executing the next phase of its Massachusetts development plan by adding 21 megawatts of new community solar projects to its existing portfolio, furthering its aim to deliver statewide access to the benefits of locally-generated clean power and setting the tone for its aggressive nationwide growth strategy.

This new community solar capacity, delivered across 14 projects, will serve residential and commercial customers in Eversource and National Grid territories. True to the spirit of community solar, these projects will serve a combination of families, local businesses and government entities, benefitting 1,000 to 1,500 participants.

The projects are located throughout southeastern Massachusetts, in the towns of Uxbridge, Marion, Westport, Carver, Wareham, Plympton, Kingston, Fairhaven and Holliston. The last of these projects will be completed in the fall and all are expected to be interconnected this year.

"Massachusetts will be one of the leading states for solar development this year, and community solar will be the primary reason for that achievement," notes Tom Sweeney, CEC's Chief Strategic Markets Officer.

"Bringing several new projects to fruition this year will provide more access and more opportunity for people to support locally generated clean energy and save money at the same time. That is our mission and we're proud to say it is working at scale."

Through CEC's RooflessSolar program, any Massachusetts electric customer can lower their electricity cost and support local clean power generation without having a solar suitable roof or making a large upfront payment. This option is especially attractive for renters, commercial customers, and non-profits.

Building these facilities will bring significant financial investment to the commonwealth, millions of dollars' worth of upgrades to the grid, and substantial fees and taxes for local jurisdictions.

In addition to this block of projects, efforts by the Baker administration and legislative action in April extending the net energy metering caps is allowing CEC to move another 16 MW of projects, and potentially more, out of the queue and into the development process this year. Already the largest community solar provider in Massachusetts, adding these two capacity blocks to its Massachusetts' portfolio substantiates CEC's commitment to ensuring broad and equal access and helping this market reach its potential.

Growing its Massachusetts portfolio is indicative of CEC's national expansion initiatives, as demand for community solar increases exponentially across the country. CEC introduced the nation's first community-owned solar project in 2010, and has now built or has under development more than 100 community solar projects with 26 utility partners across 12 states, representing more than 160 MW of shared solar capacity.