Low cost solar electricity is coming to Amherst! Solarize Massachusetts is a joint initiative of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Green Communities Division, local municipal officials and community volunteers that is designed to increase the adoption of small-scale solar electricity within a community.
On December 2, 2013 Mass CEC announced that Amherst had been selected to participate in 2013's Round 2 of the program. Solarize Amherst will use community outreach and a grassroots education campaign to leverage group purchasing to reduce the installation costs of solar electricity. Homeowners and businesses will have the option to either purchase a system at a reduced cost or enter into a lease/Power Purchase Arrangement with no money down.