Cherrytree Group LLC Blog

...by Warren Kirshenbaum

The pilot program of Solarize Massachusetts will come to Scituate this month, as part of the statewide initiative to bring solar energy into the lives, homes, and businesses of South Shore residents.

Chosen as one of four communities throughout Massachusetts to participate, Scituate will host numerous presentations on the solar initiatives available to residents with the hopes that the coastal community will become greener than ever.

“We first started The Commonwealth Solar Rebate Program a number of years ago, and we’ve seen impressive numbers in terms of the number of solar systems installed in Massachusetts homes and businesses since then,” said Kate Plourd, the press representative for Mass CEC.

Scituate opted into the program early this year and was chosen at random to be the pilot town for this region.
Plourd hopes that the program’s success will dictate how else to deploy solar initiatives in other communities throughout Massachusetts, bringing more and more residents and businesses on board with the cleaner, greener, energy.

There has been significant growth of solar power in Massachusetts. This program is intended to educate homeowners and business owners about the ease of installing a solar system and the  financial benefits, both in utility bills and tax credits.

As part of the program, Scituate hosted a “Solar 101” meeting to discuss solar rebates, installation, and renewable energy tax credits.

There are three basic kinds of rebates available to locals – the Commonwealth Solar Rebate Program, the state tax credit, and the federal tax credit.

“Solarize Scituate” isn’t the only clean-energy initiative the town has its hands on right now.

With the soon-to-be-implemented Stretch Code mandates, which require more stringent, energy-efficient guidelines for new construction; a wind turbine to be installed in the fall; and with a large solar array being placed on the town’s capped landfill, Scituate will be relying on clean energy in no time.

“Between [all] those things … things are looking very green around Scituate,” she said.

Original article By Jessica Bartlett-Boston.com