Roofs Across Salem Add 35 New Solar Arrays

There are 35 Salem property owners that have added solar panels to their roof in the past six months, according to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.

In total, the 35 new installations produce 215 kilowatts of electricity.

Statewide, 932 residents and businesses signed contracts to install solar electricity systems as part of the latest round of Solarize Massachusetts, which started earlier this year and ended on June 30.

The systems contracted through this round of Solarize Mass constitute 6.1 megawatts of renewable energy capacity that will generate enough electricity to power more than 900 average Massachusetts homes annually, according to an announcement about the new solar arrays.

Gov. Deval Patrick has a goal that 250 megawatts of solar power are created in the state by 2017.

The program lowers costs by offering consumers a five-tiered pricing structure, where the savings increase as more people sign contracts in a community or partnership of communities. Salem has a partnership with Swampscott as part of the program.

“Since its inception, the Solarize Mass model has been a huge hit with residents and business owners across the state, with this round being the best yet,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett. “This program is a testament to what can happen when government, industry and dedicated volunteers work together.”

It started as a pilot program in 2011 and since then Solarize Mass has added nearly 2,450 solar systems across the state with 16 MW of electricity capacity.

In addition to Salem and Swampscott, the other communities participating in this round include Adams, Amherst, Andover, Bedford, Chesterfield, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lexington, Needham, Watertown, Wellfleet, Whately and Williamsburg.