Sustainable Energy Projects
Why Solar Energy in Mass: Green Communites Act
Green Communities Act
Massachusetts policy encourages and requires clean energy investment. The Green Communities Act requires regulated Massachusetts electric distribution companies to enter into long term Power Purchase Agreements with renewable energy project developers.
- The Patrick/Murray Administration and Massachusetts legislature have shown leadership by enacting the Green Communities Act (GCA) that requires that Massachusetts utilities buy 15% of their power from renewable sources (including solar) by 2020
- PV Solar project investment is the only renewable energy source that can be implemented expeditiously as the permitting cycle can be relatively short (typically within 3 to 6 months)
- The market price for solar projects is reasonably well established given the experience in Germany, California, New Jersey and other locations with similar solar radiation capacity
- Regulatory and other approval timelines can be expedited with appropriate leadership
- Federal support from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan is expected to jump start large scale PV projects in Mass.