Patrick-Murray Administration Announces Stimulus Funds for 56 Solar Energy Projects
Commonwealth Solar Stimulus puts federal funds to work supporting solar energy; second round of stimulus-funded rebates opened today to overwhelming response
"Commonwealth Solar has been the catalyst for significant growth in the Massachusetts solar power industry over the last two years," Governor Deval Patrick said. "With this next generation of rebates, we are putting clean solar power within the reach of more schools, farms, and other small businesses across the state."
"Over the last few years, our administration has made it a priority to support and grow the clean energy industry in Massachusetts," said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray. "With these federal stimulus funds, we can further invest in solar industry in all regions across the Commonwealth."
"Massachusetts is in the midst of a solar revolution. By the end of this year, the Commonwealth will see a nearly 20-fold increase in solar installations over what we had when Governor Patrick took office," Secretary Bowles said. "I congratulate these 56 new projects for becoming part of the Massachusetts solar success story."
The Patrick-Murray Administration's emphasis on solar power has spurred the growth of a vibrant solar industry in Massachusetts - expanding the number of solar installation contractors and subcontractors from roughly 50 in January 2008 to nearly 200 today, and more than doubling employment in the solar sector. Solar PV projects assisted by Commonwealth Solar rebates, as well as solar installations supported by federal stimulus funds on water treatment facilities and other public buildings, will bring the state to more than 60 MW of solar power by the end of 2010, up from 3.5 MW when Governor Patrick took office.
"Meeting its goal for the first funding block in a matter of hours, Commonwealth Solar Stimulus is just another example of the immense demand for solar power in Massachusetts," said Carter Wall, Executive Director of the Renewable Energy Division at MassCEC. "We look forward to the second round of Commonwealth Solar Stimulus and adding more megawatts of solar power to Governor Patrick's goal of 250 MW of solar energy by 2017."
Between January 2008 and December 2009, Commonwealth Solar's initial phase awarded nearly 1,300 rebates for residential, commercial and municipal projects capable of generating 23.5 MW of electricity - enough to annually power nearly 3,750 homes in Massachusetts. On the heels of that success, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) in late January launched two new solar rebate programs - Commonwealth Solar II and Commonwealth Solar Stimulus. Commonwealth Solar Stimulus, which assists solar photovoltaic (PV) systems sized up to 200 kW, received 86 applications in less than five hours. Applications for a second $4 million round of rebates opened today and the round fully subscribed in less than an hour. Funding for the program comes from $8 million in State Energy Program funding awarded to the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
"Solar energy is already making Massachusetts homes and businesses more energy efficient and putting money back in the taxpayers' pockets. These rebates will create jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and protect the environment," said Senator John Kerry.
The following projects received funding in the first Commonwealth Solar Stimulus rebate round:
Project | City/Town | Kw | Rebate |
Cape Cod Organic Farm | Barnstable | 9.84 | $14,760.00 |
Jet Aviation of America Inc. | Bedford | 112.7 | $118,850.00 |
Massachusetts Audubon Society | Belmont | 9.2 | $13,800.00 |
Greater Boston Food Bank | Boston | 199.71 | $162,355.00 |
Boston College High School | Boston | 199.87 | $162,435.00 |
Sullivan's Castle Island LLC | Boston | 6.15 | $9,225.00 |
Shady Hill School - Gym | Cambridge | 89.24 | $101,740.00 |
Shady Hill School - Library | Cambridge, MA | 32.89 | $45,390.00 |
Constitution Center, LLC - Bldg 2 | Charlestown | 42.32 | $54,820.00 |
Constitution Center, LLC - Bldg 1 | Charlestown | 199.87 | $162,435.00 |
Natures Classroom | Charlton | 15.12. | $22,680.00 |
Princeton Commons: Bldg 2 | Chelmsford | 16.1 | $24,150.00 |
Princeton Commons: PH Henchelm LLC - Bldg 3 | Chelmsford | 26.68 | $39,180.00 |
Princeton Commons: PH Henchelm LLC - Bldg 4 | Chelmsford | 16.1 | $24,150.00 |
Atlas Historic Development, LLC | Chelsea | 44.16 | $56,660.00 |
Eastern Avenue Holdings, LLC | Chelsea | 199.64 | $162,320.00 |
Savage Farms, Inc. | Deerfield | 19.2 | $28,800.00 |
Savage Farms, Inc. | Deerfield | 5.6 | $8,400.00 |
Rapoza Landscaping | East Falmouth | 9.84 | $14,760.00 |
Spectrum Lighting | Fall River | 58.8 | $71,300.00 |
NDNE 9/90 Crossing LLC | Framingham | 103.04 | $114,020.00 |
Barrett Distribution | Franklin | 198.44 | $161,720.00 |
Rogers and Gray Insurance Agency Inc. | Hyannis | 40 | $52,500.00 |
Asclepius Corp | Hyannis | 30.24 | $42,740.00 |
Cape Cod Cooperative Bank | Hyannis | 59.8 | $72,300.00 |
Housing Assistance Corporation - 77 Winter | Hyannis | 14.28 | $21,420.00 |
Housing Assistance Corporation - 309 B South Street | Hyannis | 6.72 | $10,080.00 |
CanPro Investments, LTD | Lakeville | 39.715 | $52,215.00 |
CanPro Investments, LTD | Lakeville | 36.66 | $49,160.00 |
Mass Moca | North Adams | 199.52 | $162,260.00 |
Arey's Pond Boat Yard | Orleans | 6.51 | $9,765.00 |
Massachusetts Audubon Society - Princeton Hey Day Barn | Princeton | 5.98 | $8,970.00 |
Massachusetts Audubon Society - Princeton Ground Mounted | Princeton | 5.06 | $7,590.00 |
Jay Cashman Inc. | Quincy | 26 | $38,500.00 |
Grossman Marketing Group | Somerville | 199.87 | $162,435.00 |
Herb Chambers I93 Inc. | Somerville | 99.82 | $112,320.00 |
Nickerson Lumber Company - Main Bldg | South Dennis | 34.5 | $47,000.00 |
Nickerson Lumber Company - Bldg 9 | South Dennis | 74.06 | $86,560.00 |
Meadowbrook Orchards | Sterling | 18.48 | $27,720.00 |
DR-LMP Ames Pond 100-200 LLC | Tewksbury | 127.42 | $126,210.00 |
DR-LMP Ames Pond 100-200 LLC | Tewksbury | 122.13 | $123,565.00 |
The Tyngsborough Sports Realty Trust | Tyngsborough | 100.8 | $112,900.00 |
Tick Tock LLC | Waltham | 26.45 | $38,950.00 |
Spruce Environmental Technologies, Inc. | Ward Hill | 78.75 | $91,250.00 |
Quaboag Regional High/Middle School | Warren | 103.73 | $114,365.00 |
Stanley Urban (Farm) | West Bridgewater | 12.19 | $18,285.00 |
West Brookfield Elementary School | West Brookfield | 104.55 | $114,775.00 |
REEF Reality Ltd | West Dennis | 6.3 | $9,450.00 |
VFW Parkway Car Wash | West Roxbury | 35.84 | $48,340.00 |
Gandara Center Org | West Springfield | 44.39 | $56,890.00 |
Warren Community Elementary School | West Warren | 115.005 | $120,002.50 |
Williams Building Company | West Yarmouth | 5.04 | $7,560.00 |
DJ Realty Trust Dan's Jeep | Westborough | 49.68 | $62,180.00 |
DJ Realty Trust Mitsubishi of Westboro | Westborough | 49.68 | $62,180.00 |
Consolidated Marketing Services | Wilmington | 148.736 | $136,868.00 |
Franklin Realty Advisors - Worcester Business Center | Worcester | 113.16 | $119,080.00 |
Investment in renewable energy is a critical component of Governor Patrick's Massachusetts Recovery Plan, which combines state, federal and, where possible, private efforts to provide immediate and long-term relief and position the Commonwealth for recovery in the following ways:
- Deliver immediate relief by investing in the road, bridge and rail projects that put people to work today and providing safety net services that sustain people who are especially vulnerable during an economic crisis;
- Build a better tomorrow through education and infrastructure investments that strengthen our economic competitiveness, prepare workers for the jobs of the future, and support clean energy, broadband, and technology projects that cut costs while growing the economy; and
- Reform state government by eliminating the pension and ethics loopholes that discredit the work of government and revitalize the transportation networks that have suffered from decades of neglect and inaction.