Tag Archives: CleanChoice Energy

Massachusetts To Receive Influx Of Community Solar Projects

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Community solar is one of the fastest growing segments of the solar industry right now despite only 19 states having active governmental support through policies and incentives to encourage community solar projects.

Massachusetts is one of those states, however, with its SMART incentive program having specific enticements to bring community solar to the Bay State – and it’s attracted one of the strongest national firms in the country to build a series of projects there.

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CleanChoice Energy, a renewable energy company that provides wind and solar energy products to customers across the country, has launched CleanChoice Energy Community Solar in Massachusetts with 3.489 MW of proposed community solar capacity. The launch opens hundreds of new subscriber allocations for Bay State residents that live in the National Grid service area.

CleanChoice Energy Community Solar customers have the opportunity to save up to 10% on their utility bills with no upfront costs while supporting local solar projects. Customers outside of the National Grid service area that want to make the switch to clean energy can sign-up for a Community Solar waiting list or choose one of the company’s other clean energy options.

“We know that Massachusetts residents want to do their part on climate and the environment. Community solar allows people to make an impact by supporting local solar projects and helping reduce carbon emissions,” said Tom Matzzie, CEO of CleanChoice Energy. “CleanChoice Energy Community Solar makes it easy. Bay State residents can sign-up online in just a few minutes and save money on their utility bills.”

Community Solar offers landowners, farmers, and others the opportunity to receive additional revenue to install solar panels, while opening the benefits of solar to the hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents and businesses that either do not own their own home or do not have a roof that works for solar.

The CleanChoice Energy Community Solar platform connects people to local Community Solar projects, allowing residents and businesses to sign-up to support local solar in minutes and to see up to 10% savings on their utility bills with no upfront investment, setup fees or installation.

CleanChoice Energy Digitizes Community Solar Sign-Up

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

What Happened:CleanChoice Energy launched a much-overdue digital platform that allows customers to sign up for community solar projects in there in five minutes or fewer.

  • “Community solar represents one of the most important opportunities to expand renewable energy access in the U.S., with the potential to reach more than 60 million households across the country,” said Tom Matzzie, CEO of CleanChoice Energy.
  • With customer acquisition costs remaining a particular challenge for the solar industry, any chance it has to bring down those costs is a plus – and in the community solar segment, it could be huge.
CleanChoice Energy

Illustration courtesy of EnergySage

SolarWakeup’s View:  As I sit here in overcast Cleveland, Ohio, watching a blizzard outside my windows, I can only dream of sunshine and solar energy. But thanks to a new program launched by CleanChoice Energy, maybe I’ll soon be able to become part of a community solar project near me.

(I should note that I am currently part of a community wind project because, well, Cleveland gets about 12 days of sun all year, but a boy can dream of going solar someday, can’t he?)

The Washington, D.C.-based company today launched the CleanChoice Community Solar platform, which it says allows consumers to sign up in fewer than five minutes and encourages customers to stay engaged with the electricity they’re purchasing from the community array. Fortunately, CleanChoice’s “Labs” Division was able to use the money it received from the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative before such funds were yanked from their hands under the current administration.

CleanChoice Energy

Source: Department of Energy

The company first came into being when Tom Matzzie, its CEO, discovered how hard it was to put solar modules on his own roof – so like any entrepreneur, he decided to solve the problem he was having by launching his own company (because of course he did). Now that he’s added community solar options to the portfolio, it has provided another opportunity for him to promote the solar industry to communities that might not otherwise have the chance to share in the Solar Revolution.

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Recent data suggests community solar is one of the fastest growing solar market segments, and opportunities like the ones provided by CleanChoice’s new digital platform should only accelerate its continued growth – and that’s good for all of us.

More:

How Should We Categorize Community Solar?

Bonus

To clarify, yes, that IS me walking my beloved Bandit in the snow this morning.

Me: I really need to get started on my Christmas shopping.

Dog: It’s April 5.

Me: (Quizzical look): But….snow!