MA Gov. Healey Details State's Solar Future On Green Communities Act Anniversary

NATICK, MA — Officials gathered to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Green Communities Act recently in Natick, where the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced the release of the Massachusetts Technical Potential of Solar Study and its accompanying interactive ArcGIS StoryMap tool.

The Department of Energy Resources (DOER) estimates that Massachusetts has a total 506 gigawatts (GW) of technical solar potential, but that 52 GW are top-rated and 152 GW are highly suitable for rooftop, canopy, and ground-mount solar potential, based on land use, carbon sequestration, and proximity to utility infrastructure.

What's all that mean?

Massachusetts has more than enough solar potential to support its decarbonization requirements – about 15 to 18 times what is likely needed. The top-rated parcels add up to double the amount of solar called for in the 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap.

The StoryMap allows users to explore the total solar potential and suitability of any parcel in Massachusetts, officials said.

“Adding more solar in Massachusetts will generate the affordable, clean power needed to lower the costly energy burden for our families and businesses, not to mention help us achieve our ambitious climate goals,” said Governor Maura Healey. “The study shows we can site solar strategically to balance our land use and environmental justice priorities while meeting our solar and emissions reduction targets.”

Following the publication of the interim Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2025 and 2030 and the Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2050, which estimates the Commonwealth will need 27 to 34 GW of solar by 2050, DOER identified the need to undertake a technical potential of solar study to estimate the total potential for solar development across the Commonwealth and to rank the most and least suitable locations for solar.

DOER conducted the Technical Potential of Solar Study to help Massachusetts meet its solar targets.

The study included a robust stakeholder and public engagement process and gave practical direction on how much and where solar can be built while protecting, managing, and restoring our natural and working lands to maintain valuable natural resources that help sequester and store carbon.

The suitability framework and interactive StoryMap resulting from the study are key tools for the Commonwealth to develop thoughtful solar siting policy to meet its solar energy targets while balancing considerations for communities, natural and working lands, and clean energy needs, officials said.

The 52 GW of top-rated solar potential received an A (most suitable) in every suitability category evaluated.

Natick was a fitting venue to honor this occasion, officials said.

The announcement was held under a 219 kW solar canopy at the Natick Readiness Center. The canopy was funded in part by a $256,250 Leading by Example Clean Energy Grants for State Entities: Solar (Canopies and Other) & Innovative Solar program and is an example of the strong state-local partnership stemming from the Green Communities Program, officials said.

Natick was in the first group of designated Green Communities in 2010 and has received nearly $2.2 million in grants to successfully reduce municipal energy use by 20 percent.

“I am very proud of all the progress the Town of Natick has made in this area,” said State Representative David Linsky (D-Natick). “Natick truly is a leader in sustainability and is a model for other communities.”