Solar projects on hold thanks to net metering caps

As MassSolar has noted on more than one occasion, net metering caps have stalled solar projects in 171 communities across the Commonwealth.  Stalled projects range from low income and community shared solar to municipal and commerical solar projects.  Below is a list of some of the projects currently on hold.  

Oxford Community Solar Park

Oxford residents are very pleased with the solar developments already completed in Oxford, and they’re very excited about a vacant 40-acre lot in the city that could be used as a community solar park. If the net metering caps are raised and the project can move forward, the community solar park will produce enough revenue to prevent the need to raise taxes across Oxford.

 Webster Wants More Solar

Webster is already hosts a solar farm, but the town and its people want more.  The Town Planning Department has been presented multiple large-scale solar projects planned for privately owned land in Webster, but these projects have all been stalled, due to the inability for solar developers to secure financing due to the hitting of the net metering cap.

Rockland Solar Field

The town of Rockland is considering a 2MW project, but no progress can be made until the cap is lifted. The have an old landfill that they would like to turn into a solar field, but have been discouraged by solar developers because of complications due to the exhaustion of net metering cap allocation

Chelmsford Community Solar-Sharing

The Town of Chelmsford owns a capped landfill site, and they would like a developer to install a solar array on that site for a community shared solar project. Until the cap is lifted, the town cannot move forward and residents are being prevented from saving money on electricity bills through net metering agreements with the developer.

Easton Municipal Solar

Easton is a leader in the solar industry already, but they want more. They have a newly proposed project that is stalled. This project, in addition to existing completed ones,  would make solar responsible for almost 50% of their annual electricity consumption.

Sterling Manufacturing On-Site Solar

Electricity is the third largest cost for Sterling Manufacturing.  They see solar as a way to cut costs and preserve jobs.  They have a 995 kW solar project planned at their facility in Lancaster but can't move forward thanks to net metering caps.

Worcester Green and Low Income Housing Coalition Solar

An 80 kW stalled project in Worcester would help sustain services for services to homeless individuals, ex-offenders and low income communities. 

Agricultural Solar in Grafton

Community Harvest is a farm in Grafton that has a 30 kW project held up by the caps.  This non-profit organization, among other things, grows food and donates it to the Worcester Food Pantry. 

Almost 50 MW of solar are officially on hold in the net metering queue.  Many more are awaiting legislative action before filing a net metering cap allocation.  Still others have been or will be cancelled due to the uncertainty.  

The cost of inaction on the net metering cap issue is significant.  Every day we fail to raise net metering caps, we lose an estimated $3 million in project investment, $1 million in federal Investment Tax Credits and 5-10 jobs. 

Do you know of a stalled solar project in your community?  Send us the details at info@solarisworking.org.