Natick Lauded For Solar Energy Initiatives

NATICK, MA — Natick was lauded in an environmental report for its efforts to increase solar installations on homes and city buildings, and dramatically reduce emissions in the coming decades.

The Environment Massachusetts Research and Policy Center included Natick in its 2021 “Renewable Communities” report, which gave seven case studies of Massachusetts cities, towns, and agencies that have “adopted innovative programs to promote renewable electricity, energy storage, clean heating, and energy efficiency.”

The report detailed some of Natick’s many successful efforts to encourage solar installations. According to the report, Natick was one of the first communities in Massachusetts to add solar panels to municipal buildings. By August 2020, the city has installed solar panels on the roofs of ten schools and municipal buildings.

Kennedy Middle School plans to feature 403 kilowatts of solar capacity, including a rooftop installation and a parking lot canopy, as well as 223 kilowatts of battery storage.

The city has also participated in a number of incentive programs to encourage solar energy starting in 2012, when it partnered with a solar company to offer discounts to residents buying solar panels. In 2016, Natick participated in the statewide initiative Solarize Mass, which resulted in 156 solar installations with 1.2 megawatts of capacity, more than any other Solarize program to date.

Natick, along with Ashland, Holliston, and Framingham, is also participating in the MetroWest Solar + Clean Heat Challenge to connect homes and small businesses to discounted solar installations and air-source and ground-source heat pumps.

In April, the city published its Net Zero Action Plan, which calls for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2030. To achieve this goals, Natick plans to install more solar roofs, mandate solar panels and other sustainable features on new buildings, and require owners of large buildings to reduce emissions.

2021’s report also featured environmental initiatives from Arlington, Winchester, Chelsea, Springfield, Worcester, Mendon, Upton, and the Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative.