Solarize Mass Program Achieves Megawatt-Plus Capacity in Wayland Area

The lights have gone out on the Solarize Massachusetts program for this year, but thanks to that program more than 130 homes and businesses in Wayland, Sudbury and Lincoln will have solar-powered lights soon.

The 2012 Solarize Massachusetts concluded on Nov. 4 with 802 residents and businesses signing contracts that will equal 5.1 megawatts of solar capacity when all the systems are installed, according to a press release.

Solarize Mass. encourages the adoption of small scale solar photovoltaic (PV) by deploying a coordinated education, marketing and outreach effort, combined with a tiered pricing structure that provides increased savings as more residences and businesses in the community go solar. 2012 was the second year for the program, and the first year in which Wayland participated.

Wayland, Lincoln and Sudbury were three of the 17 communities, all certified Green Communities, who participated in the program this year. The three towns combined on a single Solarize Mass. grant and contracted with Astrum Solar to provide the installations.

Together, Wayland, Lincoln and Sudbury contracted for 137 new solar systems with a total capacity of 1.28 megawatts.

The town of Arlington secured slightly more contracts, 157, but that represents only 718 kilowatts of power, according to a press release from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, which sponsors Solarize Mass. along with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER).

"I knew Wayland was ready for solar, as a financial investment, on environmental grounds, as resilience activism," said Katrien Vander Straeten, solar coach for Wayland. "But I honestly didn't expect 74 systems [in Wayland] with an average size of 8.9 kw, or that Wayland, Lincoln and Sudbury together would surpass a megawatt."

Vander Straeten thanked the people who participated in Solarize Mass., as well as those who wanted to, but couldn't for various reasons such as shade or roof orientation.

"I want these people to know that we are looking into solutions for them," Vander Straten said. "I had underestimated how powerful word-of-mouth can be and how deeply connected our community is. And so I want to thank everyone who expressed interest, whether they went ahead or not."

Vander Straeten praised Astrum Solar for its work with Wayland, Sudbury and Lincoln, saying that the installer had shown "unwavering enthusiasm" and been responsive to ideas and challenges.

"They were, and are, the other side of this shining coin," she said.