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Letter: Net-metering cap

 

Greenfield Recorder

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Thank you to The (Greenfield) Recorder for your coverage of solar power and the recent public hearing on net-metering in Holyoke. Solar power is a boon to Massachusetts, combating pollution and reducing utility costs while keeping energy dollars local and creating jobs.

Solar is an economic engine: every dollar invested in solar creates $1.20 in economic benefits for our state and the solar companies active in Massachusetts today employ over 12,000 people. Clean energy benefits every sector. Low-income housing developments, the Greater Boston Food Bank, businesses like Staples and Aubuchon Hardware, manufacturing plants, farms, public school districts and many others benefit from solar panel installations in every county of the state.

The current cap on net-metering, the way we sell solar back to the grid, is a barrier to progress on economic development and environmental protection. Fortunately, legislation supported by representatives, like Paul Mark, an act relative to net-metering, community-shared solar and energy storage, would lift this cap and pave the way for an ambitious, equitable and achievable solar paradigm. Massachusetts has often led on energy, and now it is time to expand solar power.

JOEL WOOL

Clean Water Action

Boston