The popularity of solar energy is growing in Massachusetts, and Clean Energy Collective (CEC), the company responsible for introducing the community-owned solar model to consumers and utilities across the country, is poised to deliver its award winning community solar solution to the Massachusetts market within the Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECo), National Grid (NGrid), and NSTAR utility territories.

The community solar model is ideally suited for the Massachusetts market and will provide any utility customer the opportunity to own solar panels in a shared solar PV array without having to build a stand-alone system on their house or business.

For businesses and government entities, which traditionally do not have the option to install renewable energy facilities on-site, community solar provides their first opportunity to take advantage of the cost and efficiency savings that community solar can provide.

For residential customers - including renters, those with shaded roofs, and people with modest incomes - community solar offers the opportunity to affordably own solar panels and receive savings on their electric bills. Purchases can be as few as one panel or enough to completely offset their entire energy needs.

Residential customers are afforded all of the same rebates and incentives as rooftop system owners, including Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) rebates, and receive credit for the power produced directly on their monthly bills. Since community solar projects are sited and maintained for maximum production and lifespan, they produce more electricity for longer than most other renewable energy options.

CEC established the first community-owned solar garden in the country in 2010 near El Jebel, Colorado. Since that time, CEC has built or has under development 29 community solar projects with 13 utility partners across 5 states, representing 14.1 MW of community solar capacity.

Rebates are also offered through MassCEC, subject to availability, and given the demand for solar in Massachusetts the arrays are expected to sell out quickly.