Boston’s Summer of Sun

The sun has been pretty relentless this summer, and Boston wants to take full advantage of that. The City of Boston is one of 17 communities that were chosen to participate in Solarize Mass, a campaign to make solar energy more affordable and accessible for residents and small businesses using a grassroots model. Run by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the Green Communities Division of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, Solarize Mass ran a pilot last year in Harvard, Hatfield, Scituate, and Winchester. The successful pilot resulted in 829 kW of solar that has been installed or contracted to be installed, which over its lifetime, is the equivalent of taking 2,500 cars off the road.

Solarize Mass will host a series of free "Solar 201" workshops in Mattapan and Jamaica Plain next week. Solarize Mass is part of the Governor's goal to install 250 megawatts of solar photovoltaics by 2017 and Mayor Menino's goal to double the number of residential solar pv installations in Boston.

"I encourage all to join the clean energy revolution in Boston," said Mayor Thomas M. Menino. "Residents and businesses can lock in lower energy costs, new clean energy jobs are created right here in Boston and we all get to help make Boston a greener and more sustainable city."

Residents can sign up for a free solar consultation at: http://www.renewboston.org/Solar 

Workshops:

Wednesday, July 11 - 6pm to 8pm
Curtis Hall Community Center, 20 South Street, Jamaica Plain

Tuesday, July 17 - 6pm to 8pm
Mattapan Public Library, 1350 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan

Solarize Mass is also available to residents of Arlington, Acton, Melrose, Wayland, and a number of other towns. More information on the program can be found at: www.SolarizeMass.com