Solarize Numbers are In!
Lincoln added 15 solar photovoltaic systems for a total of 107.1 kW, and 10 solar hot water systems for a total of 29 kW.
Last April, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the Department of Energy Resources announced the selection of Lincoln, Sudbury and Wayland to participate in Solarize Mass PLUS for solar photovoltaic and solar hot water systems.
The communities selected SolarFlair and New England Solar Hot Water as their installers through a competitive bid process. The program kicked off in August 2017 and ran through February 2018, including a month extension due to popular demand.
For solar photovoltaic, LSW added 53 systems for a total capacity of 407 kW: Lincoln 15 systems for 107.1 kW, Sudbury 11 systems for 75.9 kW, Wayland 27 systems for 224 kW.
For solar hot water, the towns contracted 27 systems for 2150 square feet of collectors, an equivalent of 84 kW: Lincoln 10 systems for 29 kW, Sudbury 2 systems for 8 kW, Wayland 15 systems for 47 kW.
“Thanks to an active and dedicated network of local volunteers, this program increased access to affordable clean energy technologies for residents of Lincoln, Sudbury and Wayland,” said MassCEC CEO Stephen Pike. “The success of this program is due to the hard work of these communities, which are helping the commonwealth meet its ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals.”
This was the second round of Solarize Mass for the three towns. In 2012, the towns added 137 solar PV systems.
“In 2012 we tapped a lot of pent up demand for solar PV,” said Kaat Vander Straeten, Wayland solar coach.
Bob Morrison, the Sudbury solar coach ensured that solar hot water was included in the program: “Though a much older technology, it’s relatively new to our towns and has really taken off.”
With this program, Lincoln has more than doubled our solar hot water infrastructure, adding 10 new systems for a total of 16.
The chosen installers saw the enthusiasm of LSW residents.
“In the last month alone, over 25 homeowners signed up for the free solar PV assessments. It was a tremendous response from the community,” said Matt Arner, president of SolarFlair.
John Moore of New England Solar Hot Water was equally as positive: “The Solarize Mass LSW campaign has been an overwhelming success in promoting the merits of solar hot water. The 27 systems we sold will result in CO2 savings equivalent to over 30 acres of deciduous forest.”
Running a Solarize Mass campaign is hard work, carried out by municipal staff and residents who volunteered their time. LSW volunteers applied for the program and selected the installers. Once the program was underway, they organized presentations, tabled at events, ran open houses and tours, published many announcements and articles in local media, designed town mailers, and painted signage.
“We would like to thank all our volunteers for their help,” said Belinda Gingrich, a Lincoln solar coach. “A program like this wouldn’t be possible without a rich volunteer base.”
To hear what’s next for renewable energy in Lincoln, visit http://HeatSmartCCL.org.
