Community Solar Helps Cambridge Residents Save Money and Supports City’s Climate Goals


10/31/2023 • 12 months ago

solar panel rooftop

The City of Cambridge and Community Development Department today announced the addition of community solar to its long-standing Sunny Cambridge program. Now all Cambridge residents, regardless of whether they rent or own, can leverage online tools and resources from Sunny Cambridge to shop and compare community solar projects or rooftop solar installations. 

Community solar, also known as shared solar, solar gardens, or solar farms, allows anyone with an electricity bill and an available solar project nearby to subscribe. Without having to install solar on their own home, most community solar subscribers save 10% on the solar electricity they’re purchasing through community solar, resulting in a lower electricity bill. Massachusetts is home to dozens of local programs with some of the country’s best savings, including projects that offer income-eligible customers even greater savings.

Through the Sunny Cambridge citywide initiative, residents will have access to valuable educational resources, calculators and marketplaces to help you learn about and shop for solar with confidence. These services are completely free and 100% online through EnergySage, a Boston-based organization the City of Cambridge has been working with since 2016. Residents would not be contacted by phone unless it’s requested. 

“We are pleased to once again help residents make informed decisions about their energy choices by providing comprehensive, transparent information about their solar options,” said Susanne Rasmussen, Director of Environmental and Transportation Planning, City of Cambridge. “Solar adoption by residents has been and continues to be a crucial part of meeting our citywide goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.“

Cambridge residents interested in subscribing to a local community solar farm should visit energysage.com/p/cambridge/ to learn more and sign up.

Cambridge residents interested in installing rooftop solar can still utilize the EnergySage solar and storage marketplace to get multiple quotes from vetted installers, and should visit energysage.com/p/cambridge/ to get started.

“For years, Sunny Cambridge has been a trusted way for residents to explore their solar energy options,” said Tess O’Brien, Vice President of Partnerships at EnergySage. “We’re excited to expand the City’s efforts to encourage adoption of renewables more widely with the inclusion of community solar.” 

Sunny Cambridge represents just one way that the City is helping residents save money on their energy bills and reduce greenhouse gases. Residents who are interested in learning about similar programs that promote energy efficiency, renewable energy, or help save money on energy bills can visit www.cambridgeenergyalliance.org.

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ABOUT THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE AND ENERGYSAGE, INC.
Sunny Cambridge is an official City of Cambridge program to increase access to solar power for all residents by providing them with comprehensive, transparent information about their solar options. To accomplish this, the City has partnered with EnergySage to provide a simple, trusted way to comparison shop and save on high-quality clean energy and energy-saving solutions. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, millions of consumers across the country rely on EnergySage for help making smarter energy decisions through simplicity, transparency, and choice.