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MHT's Efrain Viscarolasaga: Solar installation booms in New England
The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities approved on Wednesday a proposal from Western Massachusetts Electric Co. (WMECO) to build up to 6 megawatts of solar photovoltaic power in its service area.
The utility, which provides power to about 200,000 residents in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire counties, received approval after applying under the state’s Green Communities Act that allows utilities to own and operate solar generating facilities up to 50 megawatts. Utilities had been banned from owning generation assets after deregulation in the 1990s. The project will be funded with ratepayer revenues, and WMECO agreed to spread those charges out over a number of years. The solar array is expected to be in operation by 2012.
“Today’s action is consistent with Gov. Patrick’s pursuit of a robust solar energy industry in Massachusetts,” said DPU chairman Paul Hibbard in a statement. “It moves the Commonwealth closer to the governor’s goal of 250 megawatts of solar power by 2017 while protecting ratepayers by spreading out the cost of financing WMECO’s solar ownership program.”
Other Massachusetts utilities, including National Grid and Unitil, have also petitioned the DPU to build solar farms in the state.
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