Solar electricity is now cheaper in Newton than the standard fossil fuel-based electricity from NSTAR or National Grid. Two firms, the Clean Energy Collective, and Next Step Living, offer similar deals, locking in a 5% lower rate than the utilities for 20 years, with no up front costs*.
For households like ours, where we’re too shaded to put solar panels on our roof as part of the Newton Solar Challenge, going solar via this Community Solar option is not an act of environmental altruism anymore – its just plain cheaper. This is a remarkable threshold to have passed and should be a tipping point that triggers widespread adoption, in Newton and beyond.
If you’re wondering about that 20 year commitment, so are we, and are still waiting to read the fine print before pulling the trigger. What if a better deal comes around a couple years from now? But mitigating that concern is the thought that if the price of solar keeps dropping as precipitously as it has, and solar panel efficiency keeps climbing, even less-than-perfect rooftops like ours could go solar and minimize the need for grid electricity altogether.
*Next Step Living requires a $300 refundable deposit which gets applied to the first of your new solar electricity bills.
As an early adopter back last summer (not receiving Solar just yet though I believe it will be soon) I locked in a 15% discount from Clean Energy Collective which even if something else comes along in a few years I will likely still be saving money. As a renter this is also the only choice I have vs going with 100% wind with NStar (was at 50%) but that caries a premium, and as much as I like to support wind power, renewable is renewable to me and everybody likes to save money if possible.
Big win here for Massachusetts and Newton folks for sure!
Nathan. Thanks for posting this. I’m pretty certain I won’t be around in 20 years (I’d be 98) to finish out my commitment and I’m wondering if a future owner of my home would be bound by this contract.
Bob, I look forward to congratulating you on your 98th on the Village 15 blog (after the 14th physical village “Wellsville” will have bumped Village 14 in 2025).
While I don’t have the fine print yet, I did find the Next Step Living early exit terms below from the Mass Interfaith Power and Light website below:
http://www.mipandl.org/newslink/NSL-community_solar.pdf
Early Exit Terms
If you, for any reason, choose to exit from the 20 year contract you will be subject to a $300
dollar new customer acquisition fee, which can be waived if you find us an applicable
replacement. You will also owe Next Step Living for the sum of Net Metering Credits allocated to your account until NSTAR can update their system from our notification. Due to utility regulations, it may take up to six months for Net Metering Credits to update on your account. Participants may have a surplus of credits after ending the contract depending on what time of year they choose to exit. If you can find a replacement customer and use the credits applied to your account, then you will have no negative financial implications to leaving early.
THis is really a good idea for any home. The financial condition will be great if you use solar energy in your home.
Not only in the city but also everyone person should use the solar energy. This is the right way to use the natural source.
Green Decade had a helpful blurb about solar in their recent newsletter: https://www.greendecade.org/free-solar-panels-whats-that-all-about/
It makes the point that financially you’re better off purchasing the panels outright rather than leasing them.
Like everything else in life it’s worth doing the homework to make sure you get the best deal. Great Sky Solar is a company I have heard good things about. We have a 40+ year old roof so need to deal with that before we can move ahead with solar panels, but I am excited to do so at some point!
The wonderful thing about the Newton Solar Challenge is that they have vetted the contractors / installers and negotiated the best deals for the consumer. The next community workshop will be held on January 21st at the Waban Library from 7 – 9 pm. Come and learn more about the benefits of going solar!
Be sure to check out the online reviews of these companies before calling them!
I signed up for Community Solar and am also waiting to see the fine print. I believe if you back out the $300 deposit is refunded.
The only reason why Solar is cost competitive is because the state and federal government provides lavish subsidies, as well as institutes burdensome regulations on utilities forcing them to generate a portion of their energy from solar and other “so-called renewable energies”.
http://commonwealthmagazine.org/environment/the-solar-disconnect/
Government doesn’t have a good record of picking and choosing winners and losers. Take Evergreen Solar, please.
Josh, what do you make of this:
http://grist.org/politics/this-green-tea-party-star-is-fighting-for-solar/