Regulators in Massachusetts just approved new incentives for solar and energy storage yesterday as part of the SMART program, which is expected to lower energy rates for customers.
SMART, which stands for Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target, was designed to bring an additional 1,600 megawatts of solar online. A significant share of this new solar is likely to be co-located with energy storage projects.
According to Sentinel & Enterprise, “The SMART program — a departure from the previous solar renewable energy credits, or SRECs, program — is expected to promote solar development and save ratepayers and estimated $4.7 billion, compared to the cost of existing programs. The program is required under legislation signed by Gov. Charlie Baker in April 2016 and required DPU approval because it is designed as a utility tariff, an official from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs said.”
In July, it was announced that the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) recently awarded $14,798,596 in Green Communities competitive grants to 80 municipalities across the state to fund clean energy projects.
“Green Communities are champions for clean energy practices across Massachusetts and should be commended for their efforts to reduce energy use and costs,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito.“These grants will allow the Green Communities to build upon the impressive efforts undertaken to earn this distinguished designation.”
Under the Green Communities Act, cities and towns must meet five specific criteria to be designated a Green Community and receive funding. The grants provide financial support for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that further the designated communities’ clean energy goals. This seventh annual round of DOER Green Communities competitive grants is awarded to existing Green Communities that have successfully invested their initial designation grants and previous competitive grant awards. Grants are capped at $250,000 per municipality.
Earlier, in December 2017, Massachusetts awarded $20 million in grants for energy storage projects in the state this week, doubling the initial amount planned. The funding went toward 26 projects involving different business models in an effort to accelerate the development of energy storage technologies.
The Advancing Commonwealth Energy Storage (ACES) grants are part of an energy storage initiative established by Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito in 2015. Collectively, the projects are aimed at priming the state for the increased commercialization and deployment of energy storage technologies such as batteries, flywheels, thermal storage, and pumped hydroelectric power systems.
Tesla received $1.25 million for energy storage at residential sites in Nantucket and $1.074 million for the Wynn Boston Harbor casino in Everett. Besides battery storage, the new casino plans to have two cogeneration plants and rooftop solar.
