Boston Interfaith Community Solar Project In 2016, Co-op Power plans to bring community shared solar power to up to 20 houses of worship in Boston. We will also consider other large buildings, space permitting.
What is Community Shared Solar? A community shared solar (CSS) array works like a community garden, but instead of getting fresh vegetables, you get clean power. Co-op Power plans to install solar panels on the roofs of houses of worship and other large buildings. The roofs in question are spacious, and so hosts will produce much more power than they can use themselves. This means that congregants and community members across the Boston metro area can now buy shares in the panels’ power output, and once a month receive credits on their power bills.
Why Community Shared Solar? Anyone who pays power bills to Eversource can participate in this CSS project. You don’t need to own the house where you live. You don’t need a south-facing, sunny roof. You don’t need to think about whether solar panels will work with your roof at all.
Why Co-op Power? Oddly, most companies offering ‘community shared solar’ do not actually share all the benefits of solar with communities. Co-op Power is different. As a consumer-owned cooperative, we are the only developer that: gives you the option to own your own panels provides options for people with moderate incomes or low credit scores finances solar projects for groups of communities that cannot afford them alone
What we’re offering houses of worship and other hosts: 1. Own panels on your own roof by becoming a member of Co-op Power 2. Save 10%-30% on power by purchasing net metering credits on a monthly basis 3. Receive monthly lease payments for the use of your roof
What we’re offering community members: 1. Own panels on houses of worship by becoming a member of Co-op Power 2. Save 30%-50% on power by pre-purchasing 20 years worth of net metering credits
Want to learn more? Please join our presentation and roundtable discussion on January 23rd from 10 AM to noon at the Second Church in Dorchester, 44 Moultrie Street, Dorchester Center, MA 02124. Please RSVP to the free event by searching for “Boston Interfaith Community Solar” on Eventbrite.com, or by copying and pasting this link in a web browser: www.bostonics.eventbrite.com Please note that Co-op Power will develop multiple phases of Boston Interfaith CSS projects. People who attend the presentation will be given precedence to participate in Phase One and start receiving their power by the end of the coming year.
Co-op Power is a multi-race, multi-class movement for a just and sustainable energy future in southern New England. We have over 500 members in 6 Community Energy Co-ops across Massachusetts, Vermont and Rhode Island. Huge thanks to the members of our Boston Metro East Community Energy Co-op, who had the idea for this project in the first place!
Any other questions? Feel free to write or call our CSS Project Manager, Ben Underwood. Email:
[email protected], Phone: 406.599.6843.
