SunEdison plans to construct the company's first community solar project in Massachusetts, a 2.7 MWdc solar farm in the town of Foxborough. The system is typically installed at a community location and customers subscribe to receive a portion of the system's output via net metering credits.
Homeowners in the National Grid's Southeastern Massachusetts (SEMA) area can sign up for SunEdison's community solar project and receive up to a 10% discount on their electricity utility rate. SunEdison expects to bring more community solar programs online in Massachusetts in 2016.
"SunEdison's community solar project is an exciting opportunity for homeowners, businesses and municipalities to save money while contributing to a cleaner environment in Foxborough," said Steve Raeder, general manager of SunEdison's east coast commercial and industrial solar business. "Massachusetts has some of the most expensive electricity rates in the country, but with community solar, we're able to reduce participants' electricity costs without an up-front cash commitment and without the need to install a solar system on their property."
The town of Foxborough, Massachusetts is hosting the solar farm and has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with SunEdison to subscribe to half of the solar farm's output. Foxborough expects to use the clean electricity to supply its municipal operations, including its schools.