Solarize Mass Natick

Solarize Mass Natick, a program sponsored by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Department of Energy Resources, came to a record-breaking end on October 1st, 2016. 155 residents and one small business signed contracts to go solar through the program - adding more than 1.2 megawatts to the community’s solar capacity. These installs are expected to expand the Town’s solar base by more than 50% and lower the cost of going solar by 22% compared to 2015.

Those numbers made Solarize Mass Natick one for the record books. Since the program’s inception in 2011, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and the MassCEC have sponsored 51 Solarize programs in cities and towns across the Commonwealth. Of those programs, Solarize Mass Natick was the largest program in state history, as measured by installed capacity, and the third largest program in state history, as measured by the number of new installations.

“With this program, Natick is making solar electricity more accessible by lowering costs and focusing on the power of community solutions to meet our state-wide energy challenges,” said MassCEC Interim CEO Stephen Pike. “Solarize Mass sets and meets ambitious goals of increasing solar adoption while creating jobs and economic activity across the Commonwealth.”

Boston Solar, the community’s designated installer, is in the process of installing the 156 contracted arrays, and has completed 80 to-date. The company, which committed to preferred program pricing, handles all sales, design, and construction related to the Natick program. They anticipate all program installations will be complete by January 2017.

A committed team of more than 40 volunteers and strong support from the Natick community were critical to achieving Solarize Mass Natick’s goals. Throughout the program, volunteers, including local engineers, energy professionals, college professors, students, architects, photographers, and graphic designers contributed to the Solarize campaign. They created a webpage, hosted events, staffed tables, designed literature and banners, authored weekly blog and email content, and helped spread the word about the program.

Jay Turner, the Solarize Mass Natick volunteer solar coach, added, “I think Solarize Mass Natick set another record, which was for teamwork. We were lucky to have a great group of volunteers moving the program forward every step of the way.”

In addition to the environmental and financial benefits the arrays will provide to Natick homeowners, the program also supported 15 local nonprofits. Participating organizations, which included religious organizations, libraries, choir groups and more, helped spread the word about the Solarize program and, in turn, Boston Solar made donations to these organizations for referrals. Over the course of the program, the referral program resulted in $16,100 in donations. Since the program topped 100 installations, Boston Solar is also donating a solar array worth $25,000 to a Natick nonprofit.

Solarize Mass Natick by the numbers:

313 - the number of site visits conducted as a part of the program
25+ the number of educational events Solarize Mass Natick sponsored
40+ the number of volunteers involved in Solarize Mass Natick
156 - the number of contracts signed through the program
1.4 million kWh - the approximate number of kilowatt hours of clean energy that will be generated next year as a result of the program
$4.3 million - total cost of Solarize Mass Natick installations
15 nonprofit partners
$16,100 in donations to Natick nonprofits through the referral program
1 lucky non-profit that will receive a $25,000 donated solar array

For additional information, please contact Jay Turner, the Solarize Mass Natick Volunteer Community Solar Coach, at solarizenatick@gmail.com.