State Funds Solar Projects for Low-Income Brewster Residents

BREWSTER- Thanks to a $250,000 grant awarded to Cape Light Compact and Habitat for Humanity from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, six solar photovoltaic systems were placed on multiple new low-income homes in Brewster.

“We are just about completed on phase one of a two phase project. It will be a 14 home neighborhood when we are finished. This first phase has been six homes. All of them have solar panels thanks to… funding from the state,” said Habitat Executive Director Vikki Goldsmith.

The grant, awarded by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, is part of the Baker-Polito Administration’s $15 million Affordable Access to Clean and Efficient Energy Initiative.

“We do expect to open applications for these structures very early. We hope to be back raising walls here mid to late summer of 2019. Honestly we moved that schedule earlier because the community support was so outstanding,” says Goldsmith.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center  is dedicated to growing the state’s clean energy economy while helping to meet the Commonwealth’s clean energy, climate and economic development goals.

“Providing support for these projects demonstrates our Administration’s steadfast commitment to ensuring that all residents, regardless of income, have access to affordable clean energy technologies,” said Governor Charlie Baker.

“By forming meaningful relationships between our state agencies and non-profits, Massachusetts is bolstering its nation-leading efforts to alleviate hurdles to renewable energy for low-income residents.”

“These projects will help reduce energy bills for low-income homeowners while expanding the Commonwealth’s vibrant clean energy economy,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito.

“By expanding access to clean energy technologies to more residents we can both grow the state’s renewable energy portfolio and help low-income families access cost-cutting technologies.” 

“Cape Light Compact saw this grant as the perfect opportunity to expand on our previous work with Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod to help fund solar electric systems on low-income housing,” said Cape Light Compact Administrator Maggie Downey. 

“The fifteen solar electric systems funded by MassCEC and the Compact through this grant program are benefitting both homeowners and the environment by providing a source of carbon-free, no cost energy. The Compact is grateful to MassCEC and the Baker/Polito administration for making this grant program possible.”

“Community solar is a great way for our local residents to benefit from cost-saving emerging technologies while producing clean, efficient energy to benefit our planet,” said State Representative Sarah K. Peake (D-Provincetown).

For more information on this project you can visit habitatcapecod.org

BY JOHN BONDAREK- CapeCod.Com News Center