MassCEC will not be offering funding for 2021 Solarize Mass campaigns.

If you have an interest in running a Solarize-style campaign in the upcoming year, please review the resources in the Solarize-HeatSmart Toolkit and stay tuned for more materials to be posted in the coming months. Additionally, if you would like to speak with MassCEC for guidance please reach out to solarize@masscec.com, and we can set up a time to speak with you!

If you are a designated Green Community you may be eligible for additional funding to help subsidize the costs of running a Solarize-style campaign through your application to Green Communities Grant funding this year. For more information on eligibility for this funding from the Green Communities Grant Program please click here.

2020 Solarize Mass Program

The following communities are currently participating in the 2020 round:

Solarize Mass Plus Mendon-Upton:

• Promoting solar PV, battery storage, air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, solar hot water, and electric vehicles
• Solarize Mendon-Upton Website
• Contact email: solarizemendonupton@gmail.com
• Mendon-Upton's chosen installers are ACE Solar (Solar PV), Acheive Renewable Energy (GSHP), Boucher Energy Systems (ASHP), RES Solar (SHW) and partners with Drive Green to promote electric vehicles. 

Solarize Mass Plus Yarmouth:

• Promoting solar PV and air source heat pumps
• The Installer RFP for Yarmouth is currently open. Installers interested in applying to participate in the Solarize Mass Plus Yarmouth program should review RFP for details on the Installer Resources page.

If you live in one of these communities, you can contact the respective community volunteer team via the contact information listed under their campaign information.

2019 Solarize Mass Completed Programs & Earlier Rounds

Several communities who participated in the 2019 Solarize Mass Program have now completed their campaigns.

For final results for all communities: See Solarize Mass Program Results page for final information on all campaigns.

For contact information:

For individual community contact information, email solarize@masscec.com. 

Now in its tenth year, Solarize Mass is a partnership between MassCEC and the Green Communities Division of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER).  Click here to see a map of all Solarize Communities and results to date.

How it works

The Solarize Mass program looks to increase the adoption of small-scale solar electricity systems through a grassroots educational campaign, driven mainly by local volunteers and reduced pricing that increases the savings for participants. Each participating community competitively selects a designated solar installation company. Homeowners and business owners who want to participate can either purchase the solar electricity systems directly or enter into a lease or power purchase agreement (PPA) with the installer if offered. Under a lease or PPA, the installer will own, operate and maintain the system, while the home or business owner agrees to purchase the power generated by the system as a specific rate. 

The Solarize Mass Plus program pairs the Solarize Mass model with an additional technology offering. This program was piloted in 2017 and continued through 2020. Participating communities have opted for solar PV plus a range of eligible technologies including, air source heat pumps, battery storage, electric vehicles, ground source heat pumps, and solar hot water. Eligible technologies range from various Clean Heating and Cooling technologies, to Energy Efficiency or Electric Vehicles. In addition to competitively selecting a solar installation company, MassCEC will assist the community in competitively selecting a vendor for the Plus technology or technologies.

Since Solarize Mass launched in 2011, the program has resulted in almost 20,000 individuals expressing interest in pursuing solar electricity and other clean energy technology systems. To date, over 3,700 residents and business owners in 85 communities signed contracts resulting in over 25.66 megawatts of contracted capacity. The Solarize Mass Plus program has resulted in the contracting of an additional 111 clean energy technologies. In addition, the number of small-scale solar electricity projects in almost every community doubled as a result of the program. See Solarize Mass Results for information and up-to-date results. To learn more about the current Solarize Mass program, go to the Solarize Mass main page.

Solarize Mass Results

• Solarize Mass Program Results
• Solarize Mass Pilot Overview
• Solarize Mass 2012 Program Update

Solarize Mass Community Marketing Proposals

Solarize Mass community marketing proposals from 2012 through 2020 are provided below to assist communities and other interested parties in considering different strategies for implementing a Solarize or similar cleam energy adoption campaign. Developing a marketing proposal prior to the launch of a clean energy adoption campaign can provide a useful roadmap for communities, and may benefit program results.