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Oct 30 2017
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Mass Solar Connect Extended to November 30th

By Buy Solar Panels No Comments


Mass Solar Connect, a program with the objective of helping South Coast residents use renewable solar energy to power their households, has extended its deadline to November 30th so that it can serve more people across communities. With Mass Solar Connect, local homeowners can access competitive bids for the purchase and installation of solar photovoltaic systems at the best possible prices. This platform is entirely free for homeowners to explore and see pricing.

Mass Solar Connect, created by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), is a partnership with MassCEC, Solar.com, an online solar marketplace platform, and two community non-profit organizations, Self-Reliance and the Marion Institute. The program’s objective is to increase the adoption of solar PV systems across Southeastern Massachusetts.

“Mass Solar Connect aims to make solar energy more affordable and accessible for South Coast residents,” said Megan Amsler, Executive Director of Self-Reliance. “By extending the deadline for the program, we can assist even more residents to go solar in the Commonwealth, which helps to meet the state’s clean energy goals.”

Local residents can join the program by visiting Solar.com’s Massachusetts comparison-shopping marketplace and confidentially enter their address. This then allows them to see cost projections for a solar system and get an average of six to 12 competitive quotes from local solar providers. Solar.com vets every solar provider to make sure they are high-quality, and only Solar.com and the selected solar provider can view the homeowner’s location and contact information. Through this Hassle-Free process, Mass Solar Connect offers solar system prices that are 20 percent less than the average market rates. At the same time, homeowners can find out about federal and state incentives for installing solar, as well as the Mass Solar Loan to help with financing a project.

“Our online platform makes the solar process easy, safe, straightforward, and cost-effective,” explained Solar.com CEO Max Aram. “Thanks to Mass Solar Connect, the South Coast community can explore solar at great prices from the best local companies.”

To register for Mass Solar Connect and explore free solar system quotes, homeowners can visit Pick My Solar’s Mass Solar Connect webpage before the November 30th end date. To find out more about federal and local incentives for adopting solar, check out MassCEC’s online information. Find out more about Mass Solar Loans here.

About Solar.com
Solar.com is an online solar marketplace giving home and business owners expert advice and quality custom bids from a national network of top solar installers. Pick My Solar’s aim is to simplify the solar purchasing process, drive down costs, and provide the consumer advocacy necessary for solar to achieve broad market success. The service has won several awards, including the Kauffman Foundation’s Innovation Award, two U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Catalyst prizes, and 2015 Tech Week National Startup of the Year.

About Self-Reliance
Self-Reliance manages heat and power buying cooperatives, conducts a variety of community training seminars and offers energy consulting services. By working to help simplify complicated energy systems, Self-Reliance’s mission is to educate, inspire and empower people to take action.

About Marion Institute
The Marion Institute is an incubator of innovative models for social impact. We cultivate great ideas and support visionary leaders creating progress around the world. Based on the Southcoast of Massachusetts, the Marion Institute strives to enhance the quality of life for our neighbors as well, working to strengthen community, foster healthy living, and expand sustainability, particularly in the historic city of New Bedford, fast becoming one of the greenest cities in America.

About MassCEC
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) is dedicated to accelerating the success of clean energy technologies, companies, and projects in the Commonwealth—while creating high-quality jobs and long-term economic growth for the people of Massachusetts. Since its inception in 2009, MassCEC has helped clean energy companies grow, supported municipal clean energy projects and invested in residential and commercial renewable energy installations creating a robust marketplace for innovative clean technology companies and service providers. Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton chairs MassCEC’s board of directors.

Oct 23 2017
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Can Renewable Energy Bring Power Back to Puerto Rico?

By Gain Energy Independence No Comments

Life in Puerto Rico is staggering to its feet after Hurricane Maria struck on September 20th. In a direct hit, Maria obliterated power lines and triggered a humanitarian crisis of previously unseen proportions in the U.S. territory.

Around 85 percent of residents are still without electricity and with almost no cell service. Puerto Ricans are struggling to survive and largely cut off from the world. Most people in Puerto Rico still have no running water, no way to store food, and hospitals are running on diesel generators.

Recovering from disaster on an island is particularly difficult. Importing supplies and fuel for generators is more expensive and takes longer. This is especially true with extensive damage to the roadways in Puerto Rico. Current estimates are that power will not return to the 3.4 million residents until March 2018.

Power in Puerto Rico before Maria

Puerto Rico’s electricity infrastructure was faulty before the hurricane. There were 2,478 miles of transmission lines stemming from power plants, and 31,485 miles of distribution lines across the island. Many of those lines were in difficult-to-reach mountainous and forested areas.

Power outages were frequent as the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) is bankrupt – at least $9 billion in debt. As funds and skilled workers dwindled, PREPA struggled to repair what was broken, rather than proactively maintain the grid.

Post-storm, recovery is a painfully slow process. Some regions must be rebuilt by expensive methods such as flying in poles and lines by helicopter.

How solar is helping Puerto Rico now

Jigar Shaw, president of Generate Capital, sees the solar industry as growing and better able to respond to emergencies, as compared to just a few years ago. He noted in Greentech Media, “We have the ability to do things we weren’t previously able to do.”

SEIA is coordinating solar efforts to help with immediate relief. Companies are donating solar generators, solar lanterns, other equipment, and even installation services.

Could energy in Puerto Rico be more secure with solar?

The state of energy in Puerto Rico has many people asking if Puerto Rico’s power grid could be rebuilt in a smarter way. The advantages of solar and a more resilient grid could drastically improve recovery time, reducing casualties and illness.

While any hardware can be damaged during a storm, solar systems did hold up considerably better than transmission lines. Many solar installations in Puerto Rico sustained only 10 to 15 percent damage, as opposed to the 80 percent damage to PREPA’s transmission lines.

How renewable energy could help stabilize Puerto Rico long term

Distributed or off-grid systems are another way solar could strengthen energy resilience on the island. Building microgrids would prevent the entire energy system being knocked out.

As an example, if one or two bulbs on a string of twinkle lights are loose or missing, the whole string loses power. But with several short strings, the repair is focused on a smaller area and sections light up again sooner.

Local solar power systems wouldn’t be brought down with the entire grid. They could stay online, or be brought back up more easily. Battery storage would be an even more independent use of solar with onsite fuel-free backup.

Renewable energy to the rescue

Characteristically bold, Elon Musk of Tesla offered to help rebuild Puerto Rico’s electricity grid. Though ambitious, it is potentially viable. It may require new ways of attracting investors – which seems to be what Musk is doing.

Overall, the solar industry is unifying and hopefully lighting Puerto Rico up sooner. Looking forward, rebuilding durable off-grid solar panel systems could ensure a safer, stronger electricity infrastructure for tomorrow.