SMART program Harming Solar Development in MA says MassSolar

MassSolar joined solar advocates, environmental experts, and nonprofit organizations and spoke against the Baker administration about its new Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program damages in low-income communities throughout the state.

Advocates praised the extensive and thoughtful process the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has engaged in over the past year to develop the new program. However, they expressed alarm at the potentially devastating effects this new program could have on the continued expansion of solar in Massachusetts, and in particular on the ability to offer residents in low-income communities access to affordable solar power and the savings that come with it.

Co-founder and president of MassSolar, Mark Sandeen said that MassSolar works to expand access to solar for everyone in the Commonwealth, including low-income communities. They are concerned that the SMART program as currently proposed, may impose administrative hurdles and set compensation rates so low that continued development of low-income solar will become impossible. They need to make it easier, not harder for low-income communities to go solar.

State Director of Environment Massachusetts, Ben Hellerstein said that solar energy is helping us clean up our air and water and fight climate change, and all of us stand to benefit when everyone in Massachusetts has the opportunity to switch to solar. But the devil’s in the details. Access to solar for low-income communities will be severely limited if the Baker Administration doesn’t fix shortcomings in the SMART program. He urge the Administration to fix SMART to help put renewable energy within reach for all Massachusetts residents.