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Is solar gardens Massachusetts legitimate?
According to Mark Perry, an economist at the American Enterprise Institute, solar gardens are the “latest solar scam.” Established under a 2013 state energy law, Xcel Energy’s solar garden program offers solar to customers who don’t want to or can’t install onsite solar systems.
Are there solar gardens in Massachusetts?
Community solar gardens are located in more than half of U.S. states, with Colorado, California, Massachusetts, and Minnesota leading the way. And they’re expected to continue growing, especially in states with supportive environmental policies and initiatives.
How does community solar work in Massachusetts?
With community solar, a solar electricity system is installed on a suitable roof or parcel of land, and then participants who live elsewhere sign up to get benefits from the system, either by receiving net metering credits or offsets toward their electric bill.
How many solar farms are in Massachusetts?
This piece of legislation also helped form MA’s virtual net metering policy that allows electricity customers to receive bill credits for energy generated at community solar farms. According to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR), Massachusetts had roughly 208 community solar projects as of late 2020.
What is community solar EnergySage?
EnergySage is the nation’s online community solar marketplace: when you sign up for a free account, we connect you with developers in your area offering local solar farm subscriptions to help you save money. Over 10 million people come to EnergySage each year to learn about, shop for and invest in solar.
Is community solar a good idea?
Above all, community solar is a way to save money on your electric bills – this is the primary benefit for most customers. In addition, community solar options have more and more flexible terms, and they’re a great option for renters who want to go solar.
What is the largest solar farm in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts’ largest privately owned solar array is the 7.1 MW Happy Hollow Community Solar and Storage Farm, completed in March 2019. The town of Harvard, Massachusetts has the most solar installations with 75 planned, of which 21 have been installed.
How do community solar farms make money?
Community Solar Farms sell their electricity to utilities to reduce bills of subscribers. The amount of revenue that a Community Solar Farm generates will depend on the rate for power and the number of subscribers.
Why does Massachusetts have so many solar panels?
The High Cost of Electricity and a Great Low Cost Solution Traditional utility costs can be unpredictable and especially high in Massachusetts, so many have made the switch to solar in order to stabilize and reduce energy costs.