Go Solar

Going solar saves money while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Consumers and homeowners have options as to how to access solar power: installing panels on their roof, participating in community solar, or buying clean electricity. This brief overview is intended to highlight the decisions and considerations, with links to helpful resources and information.

Overview

Installing Solar Panels

Community Solar

Buying Clean Electricity

 

Overview

Solar Electricity, also known as solar electric systems, solar PV, or solar photovoltaics, converts sunlight into electricity through an array of panels that connect to a building’s electric system and/or the electrical grid. Going solar saves money while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  Use of solar power continues to expand across the country: it is projected that more than one in seven U.S. homes will have a rooftop solar PV system by 2030. Massachusetts has seen tremendous growth in the adoption of solar electric systems, and over the past ten years has consistently been one of the top 10 states for cumulative solar capacity installed.

The following summary statement comes from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC): Clean Energy Lives Here. https://goclean.masscec.com/ 

“Homeowners have a number of options to supply their home with clean electricity. Installing solar electricity (also called photovoltaics or PV) on your home is a great way to transition your home’s electricity to clean sources. However, if you aren’t ready or able to invest in a solar PV system, buying clean electricity or participating in community solar are two other great ways to start your transition to clean energy.

When you purchase clean electricity, your home’s electricity will usually come from solar, onshore wind, or hydroelectric power.

Community solar allows you to purchase electricity at a discounted rate by subscribing to a solar farm. This gives you the benefits of clean energy without having to install solar panels on your property! Once enrolled, you will receive net metering credits or offsets towards your electric bill from the community solar farm.” 

MassCEC, a state economic development agency, through its website “Clean Energy Lives Here” offers an excellent collection of information and advice. The three options cited above are fully explored under Tab “Clean Energy Solutions/Electricity.”

We recommend that you look through these materials to help you understand your choices and to prepare for conversations with vendors, installers and others who represent the different arrangements.

Installing Solar Panels

Installing solar panels on your home or property is ideal if there is adequate roof or ground space and good sun exposure. The benefits are:

  • Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using clean electricity

  • Save on Electricity Bills. Save hundreds to thousands of dollars a year by generating your home’s electricity

  • Energy Price Stability. Electricity generated by your system has a stable cost over time and is not subject to rising fuel costs or fluctuations in utility rates

  • Ongoing Revenue. Depending on your utility, additional upfront incentives or ongoing credits can provide additional revenue

Particularly helpful and thorough is the MassCEC’s Massachusetts Residential Guide to Solar Electricity. Contents include an explanation of how solar electricity works, system components, sizing and optimizing a solar electric system, important regulations, ownership options and incentives, what to look for in a contract, and more.

Ownership options explained in this guide are:

Direct Ownership:

  • Cash Purchase: upfront purchase of a solar electric system; requires the largest up-front cash investment, but typically provides the highest return on investment over time

  • Loans: a variety of loan or financing options that allow the customer to spread payments out over time

Third Party Ownership:

  • Solar Lease: property owner agrees to pay a pre-determined fixed monthly fee to a solar company, which then installs, owns, and operates the solar electric system; the property owner then receives any electricity generated by the solar electric system at no additional cost

  • Solar power purchase agreement (PPA): Similar to a solar lease, but rather than a fixed monthly payment, the property owner agrees to purchase the electricity generated by the system at an agreed-upon per-kilowatt-hour price, often lower than typical utility rates (See additional information about solar leases and PPAs here.)

For these ownership options, the MassCEC’s guide also discusses and compares the range in upfront costs, how savings and revenues are realized over an extended time frame, key financial inputs, and methods to interpret the inputs.

Battery Storage: A related issue for homeowners with solar panels is battery storage. Battery storage provides back-up power for your home in case of an electrical outage. The battery is charged by solar electricity if you have solar panels or by utility-supplied electricity if you don’t. If the battery is paired with solar electricity, energy generated during the daytime and stored by the battery can be used to power your house at night. Cited benefits are:

  • Resiliency. Take the stress out of electrical outages by having a backup source of power

  • Ongoing Revenue. Battery storage systems can generate additional credits or payments from your utility

  • No Hassle. Power is stored in an inconspicuous box attached to the wall and doesn’t require separate fuel, need mechanical upkeep, or produce on-site emissions

  • Complements Solar. Charge your battery with solar electricity then use the battery during times when the solar panels aren’t producing energy, reducing the times you need to draw power from the electric grid

For more information, see the section on “Battery Energy Storage” in MassCEC’s guide. Topics include batteries’ uses, sizing considerations, battery types and components, difference between DC and AC coupling, and economics and incentives. 

Additional recommended sources of information on solar electricity at home are:

Sustainable Sharon Coalition (SSC) is sharing local recommendations for solar companies; these companies are supporting SSC with referral bonuses. View them here.

 

Community Solar

With community solar, a solar electricity system is installed on a suitable roof or parcel of land, and then participants who live elsewhere sign up to receive benefits from the system, either by receiving net metering credits, or offsets towards their electric bill. Participants derive benefits from a solar electricity system without the large upfront investment or need for roof space for solar panels, save money, and support clean energy deployment.

Community solar is ideal for homes without available roof space or sun exposure, renters, condo owners, and homeowners who want electricity at a low cost.

Helpful information about community solar is available from these organizations and websites:

Sustainable Sharon Coalition has partnered with local company Relay Power to enable Sharon residents to enroll in community solar slots in local solar farms. See our initiative page Community Solar Slots Still Available and learn about Relay Power’s special offer for new enrollees.

Buying Clean Electricity

In today’s energy marketplace consumers are no longer limited to electricity supplied and delivered by the established utility companies like Eversource and National Grid. While most electricity continues to come from fossil fuel sources (oil and gas) consumers can choose to purchase cleaner electricity through their electric utility or an alternative supplier. Clean electricity comes from solar power, as well as wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass. Consumer demand for cleaner sources of power helps to expand these options.

As described by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC): Clean Energy Lives Here, buying clean electricity is ideal for renters, homes without available roof space or sun exposure, homeowners not ready to invest in solar electricity for their home, and as an alternative to community solar.

Sharon Power Choice: Sharon residents are fortunate in having access to Sharon Power Choice, the town-wide municipal electricity aggregation program that was launched in 2021. It offers residents both cleaner electricity and, presently, lower costs. To learn more, see Sustainable Sharon Coalition’s related initiative page or go directly to the Sharon Power Choice website.

Competitive electricity suppliers: Traditionally, electric utility companies (Eversource, National Grid) have supplied and delivered electricity to our homes. Massachusetts residents, however, may choose to purchase their electricity from a competitive supplier, that is, is a company licensed by the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to sell electricity supply. (The delivery of that electricity to your home remains with the utility company). While these suppliers often market directly to consumers, the DPU has developed the Energy Switch program and website to assist consumers in shopping for electric supply products.

Competitive suppliers offer a range of electricity products that vary by price, length of contract term, renewable energy content, and inclusion (if any) of additional product and services. Note that all suppliers, including the utility companies, are required by state law to obtain a percentage (20% in 2022) of their electricity from renewable energy sources. Competitive suppliers typically offer even higher amounts of renewable energy content, up to 100%. However, the price of this greener electricity is higher than electricity produced mainly from fossil fuels.

Sharon residents looking to increase the amount of renewable energy resources in their electricity can compare competitive suppliers. However, individuals are likely to do better by enrolling in Sharon Power Choice, which can negotiate rates on behalf of the larger community.

To learn more about competitive suppliers, see the MA DPU website, Information for Consumers about the Electric Industry; the Attorney General’s page, What do I need to know about my electric supply options in Massachusetts?; and the DPU Energy Switch program. 

Please consider Sustainable Sharon Coalition's free Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program if (1) you own or have experience with the items described on this page and are willing to be a volunteer advisor, or (2) you have questions about a possible project or purchase and would like to discuss it with another Sharon resident.

Page Updated January 2023