Mayor Warren Asks That Solar Incentives Remain

NEWTON, MA - Newton Mayor Setti Warren has a message for legislators - don't take away our incentives to develop solar energy projects.

Warren, along with mayors and town managers from 32 Massachusetts communities, sent a letter to lawmakers advising against proposed cuts to "net metering," the Boston Globe reported.

"Net metering" allows towns to sell its surplus of electricity back to companies, typically at the retail price, according to the Globe.

But a press release from the mayor's office says proposed legislature would lower the price of credited electricity by as much as 75 percent.

In the letter Warren warns that cuts could cost Newton millions in prospective savings and discourage municipalities from embarking on clean energy projects.

According to the United States Department of Energy, Massachusetts currently ranks 16th in the country in percent of renewable energy produced.