Solarize Mass. Deadline Extended

It seems safe to say that Solarize Massachusetts has been a stunning success in Sudbury, Wayland and Lincoln, the three towns sharing one contract under the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources program.

In fact, Solarize Mass. has been so successful throughout the 17 participating communities in the state that the deadline to take advantage of the bulk solar energy purchasing program has been extended to Oct. 31. The original deadline was Sept. 30.

“Extending the deadline will ensure everyone in these communities has the opportunity to take advantage of this program, which serves as a national model,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton McDevitt in a press release. “We’re beyond pleased with the response so far and expect the number of signed contracts to increase dramatically during October.”

The Solarize Mass. program is intended to encourage residents and businesses to adopt solar power by offering bulk purchasing capabilities to the communities involved. The installation cost is organized into a five-tier system; as more people in a community contract for solar, the price for everyone in the community drops.

Wayland, Lincoln and Sudbury, considered one community under the program, , in early August. As of Sept. 21, the three towns had 101 signed contracts for a total of 947 kilowatts, according to Michelle Waldgeir, vice president of marketing for Astrum Solar, the selected installer working for Wayland, Lincoln and Sudbury.

In Wayland alone, residents and businesses had signed 55 contracts for solar installation, a total of 453 kW, by the end of August, according to the Solarize Mass., website for Wayland, Lincoln and Sudbury.

The deadline to sign contracts under the Solarize Mass. program is Oct. 31.