Solar gaining ground in Canton

As a senior communications consultant with nearly two decades in the public relations field, Canton resident Liza Colburn considers it a must that she believes what her clients are selling.

Solar panels on the roof of the Colburns’ home on Randolph Terrace

So when Hawaii’s leading solar energy firm, RevoluSun, came calling after expanding to two locations in Massachusetts, Colburn went right to work learning as much as she could about the company, its products, and about the solar photovoltaics (PV) industry in general.

What she found, Colburn insists, was a deal that “makes a lot of sense” for Massachusetts homeowners — so much sense, in fact, that she and her husband, Sean, decided to take the plunge and “go solar” themselves, financing the purchase of 16 panels on their Randolph Terrace home that were installed in July and connected to the grid just last week.

The new 5.4-kilowatt system features the highest efficiency panels on the market and will produce enough electricity to “zero out” their electrical bill over the course of a given year (banking “net” energy to use during periods when there is less sun). They also expect to save roughly 40 percent off the total installation cost through assorted federal and state tax credits, as well as a rebate of approximately $2,000 from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (CEC).

“At the end of the day, I was sold because it’s a real no-brainer in a lot of ways,” said Colburn, who paid full price for her system and was “treated like any other customer” despite her role as a PR consultant.

Company allegiances aside, Colburn has since learned that there are many more homeowners just like her — including several thousand across Massachusetts and a growing number in Canton who have made the switch to solar.

In fact, in a report released last week by Environment America, Massachusetts was highlighted among the “Dazzling Dozen” for solar output, coming in at number 10 in the country for solar capacity per capita and number seven for cumulative solar installations in 2012.

In terms of local production, a recent Boston Globe article identified Canton as the third leading producer of solar power in the entire commonwealth, citing the latest figures from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Canton, according to the Globe report, now has a total capacity of 6.39 megawatts, which puts it behind only Dartmouth (9.28 MW) and Boston (9.23 MW) among the state’s 351 cities and towns.

In all fairness, most of that production comes from a single source: a 5.6-megawatt solar farm at the former town-owned landfill on Pine Street that was the largest in New England when it was completed last summer by Boston-based Southern Sky Renewable Energy.

Beyond that one facility, however, Canton still had 19 smaller systems installed as of May, and there are new ones popping up all over town — including brand-new installations at both the high school and middle school that should be producing power within weeks, according to Andrew Bernstein of Kearsarge Energy.

Similar to the agreement that the town has with Southern Sky, the school department signed a 20-year agreement with Kearsarge to purchase electricity produced by the solar panels at a fixed rate with an escalator “well below current retail rates.”

Bernstein said the systems will save the schools an estimated $700,000 over the life of the contract, which equates to roughly 35 to 45 percent of the two schools’ electrical costs.

As for residential installations, Colburn said she is personally aware of at least a handful of new solar customers in Canton, including a family on nearby Farm Street as well as a few others who are seriously weighing their options.

“It has really picked up, and the residential [sector] is definitely contributing,” she said, citing both anecdotal data along with recent figures from the Mass. CEC.

Those who do decide to go with solar must then choose whether to lease or purchase the panels — a complicated decision that experts say depends on a variety of factors, from availability of money to the length of time one intends to stay in his or her home.

In Massachusetts, approximately two-thirds of all residential solar installations currently involve a type of lease agreement, whereby the homeowner pays a discounted rate to the solar company for power while the company retains ownership of the panels and receives all of the tax credits and rebates.

A lease is especially enticing to those who want to “go green” while paying little or nothing up front, as well as those who do not want to be responsible for any maintenance or repairs.

At the same time, the incentives to purchase a system rather than lease one are reportedly higher than ever. They include falling prices for solar panels, improved technology and efficiency, and increased access to low-interest financing.

“Obviously, everyone’s situation will be different — from roof position and sun-shade ratio, to goals for the system, and of course finances,” said Colburn. “These factors all contribute to the return on investment or lease. In Massachusetts, solar purchases today typically pay for themselves in six to seven years.”

In addition to the tax incentives and rebates, those who decide to buy their own system can also take advantage of the state’s Solar Carve-Out program, which mandates that utilities provide a certain percentage of electricity from solar PV sources. To meet these requirements, utilities purchase Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) from solar generators, including homeowners. One SREC is created for every 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity produced. Owners can then sell the SRECs they generate to utility companies for a period of 10 years.

SREC prices are determined by market forces and currently sell for around $230 each in Massachusetts, which is higher than most northeastern states.

Canton resident Don Sasin, another proud solar owner, views the SRECs that his system will generate as a modest but steady income stream that will benefit him in retirement.

Sasin, who purchased 24 panels for his garage roof in December, just received his first electric bill in months — $32 for a hotter than usual July.

“I’m definitely happy with it,” he said of his solar panels, which blend in nicely with his dark-colored roof.

Sasin said he has fielded many questions from curious family members and friends and knows of at least one former neighbor who is “very interested” in purchasing his own system.

As for fellow convert Colburn, she too is thrilled with her purchase and is eager to spread the word to other interested residents. She has scheduled a “solar open house” on Saturday, August 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at her home at 89 Randolph Terrace, where “curious Canton residents and families can learn more about how solar works and see the [equipment] in action.”

Those who already do own a solar system, like Sasin and Colburn, also appreciate the fact that they can save money while positively impacting the environment through the production of clean, renewable energy.

“I do think it’s important to think ‘green,’” said Sasin. “With this here, I’m actually producing electricity for the [utilities]; it’s not burning anything. You’re saving money, but you’re also saving a little bit for the environment.”

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Posted by Jay Turner on Aug 1 2013. Filed under Featured Content. Both comments and pings are currently closed.