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Solar energy industry is flourishing in Mass.

The Boston Globe -- Massachusetts is no California when it comes to sun. But that isn’t stopping the solar energy industry from flourishing here.

Massachusetts, better known for long, cold winters, gloomy springs, and gale-driven nor’easters, is undergoing an unlikely solar power boom, attracting solar companies from around the country that are installing systems for homeowners, businesses, and institutions.

Only California has a better solar market than Massachusetts, which tied Hawaii in rankings by Ernst & Young, the Big Four accounting firm that tracks the alternative energy industry. Massachusetts was the only northern state to crack Ernst & Young’s top 10, beating Florida (the Sunshine State), Arizona (home of the Sun Devils), and New Mexico (sun symbol on the state flag).

“It’s not a matter of how

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Submitted May 27, 2012 By: angel4me

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,624 Points:1,609,520 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 30, 2012 7:02:46 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse as for ignorance going viral, probably partly to blame on all the new toys that take away our common senses and fry our brains. (reminds me of the StarTrek episode where they all played the holodeck game and it had them all under its spell).
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,624 Points:1,609,520 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 30, 2012 7:01:19 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse gnusm: "Virtually every urban and suburban home could be connected and generate solar power... with companies leasing access to the rooftops by guaranteeing a low energy cost for the household." that would make too much sense and would be too much of a good solution.
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,008 Points:1,112,420 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 10:42:33 AM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Some of the same posters were angry with the recent post about the city of Tracy in California working to build a local solar farm....
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,008 Points:1,112,420 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 10:40:27 AM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse I keep hoping you may be proven wrong........ but that has yet to happen..... In fact, the ignorance seems to be going viral....sadly
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,008 Points:1,112,420 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 10:38:23 AM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Unfortunately honda, it seems like your assessment of the mental status of some of the posters is all too accurate....
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,008 Points:1,112,420 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 10:36:46 AM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Virtually every urban and suburban home could be connected and generate solar power... with companies leasing access to the rooftops by guaranteeing a low energy cost for the household.
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,008 Points:1,112,420 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 10:33:41 AM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Smartest thing is to create the solar farms in the neighborhoods where the rooftops can be used, the local power grid can be used....
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,624 Points:1,609,520 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 6:45:02 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse kirzon: there may be space in the deserts, but there are also no people. You need electricity where it's used, not transport it hundreds of miles as much will be lost in transmission.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,624 Points:1,609,520 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 29, 2012 6:40:30 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse given how much energy is wasted in this country, having solar as a renewable, clean energy would be making so much more sense. Except, as comments here show, embracing new technology and different energy sources is a mental challenge for a large sector of the US population.
sparky808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,003 Points:598,710 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 3:26:47 PM Ignore sparky808 Report Abuse These are the 3 states with the highest tx rates.
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,008 Points:1,112,420 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 1:50:37 PM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Carlson- Truth is many posters don't know how much money they could save -- with solar power.
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,008 Points:1,112,420 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 1:46:14 PM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse It would be nice if Tomok took note of the "cost" of being an American worker who hasn't seen pay increases in decades..... while the rich rip them of --legally.... Solar City's plan is a good one to spread the use of solar power....
sciotosix Champion Author Dayton Posts:2,749 Points:666,125 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 1:04:44 PM Ignore sciotosix Report Abuse Good for them.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,624 Points:1,609,520 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 7:02:29 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse carlson: that's great news. Most people think an overcast sky does not produce electricity via solar panels (with the thought that you need "solar" to work the panels). Many are unaware that as long as the sun is out, there is at least some amount or radiation that can be converted to energy.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,624 Points:1,609,520 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 7:00:40 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse tomok: solar panels from China are getting heavily tarriffed these days, so they're not as cheap as they used to be.
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,017 Points:2,345,510 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 6:42:59 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Solar City installs the solar system on your house and you buy their reduced cost electricity, supplemented with the local utility power supply. The installation cost of the system is reduced by using federal and state tax credits. There is enough solar energy present for cities in the northern latitudes, it takes more panels to produce the same amount than in the south. With all of Barry's failed government subsidized solar production plants are they buying their solar panels from China? Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. Consider using other forms of less expensive transportation to lower your cost, if possible! The price of fuel at the pump is too high! 12/22/2012!
justmedc Veteran Author Michigan Posts:382 Points:174,045 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 2:26:36 AM Ignore justmedc Report Abuse well ok
carlsonguitars Champion Author Portland Posts:4,876 Points:825,980 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 1:35:13 AM Ignore carlsonguitars Report Abuse I forgot to mention that my parents installed solar panels a year ago and bring in about $500 a month selling WHOLESALE (pennies on the dollar) back to the grid, AFTER they use what they need during the day. At their current rate, the panels will pay for themselves in 6 years...
carlsonguitars Champion Author Portland Posts:4,876 Points:825,980 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 1:33:46 AM Ignore carlsonguitars Report Abuse And here!!! Solar (despite being rainy all the time) is popular here in "Portlandia" and it's less expensive compared to "grid" power...
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,095 Points:1,623,180 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 1:21:27 AM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse more from an informative article that goes beyond a few asinine comments on here: "The number of solar installation firms in the state has also exploded, to nearly 200 last year from about 43 in 2007. In total, state energy officials estimate that more than 1,300 solar energy firms — installers, manufacturers, and others — operate in Massachusetts, employing about 14,000. SolarCity of San Mateo, Calif., a six-year-old installation company with 1,800 employees nationwide, entered the Massachusetts market in early 2011. The company installs solar panels at no cost to customers, then sells them power generated by the system, which SolarCity continues to own. The company is then able to take advantage of federal and state subsidies. Ed Steins, SolarCity’s regional director, said the company already services more than 800 residential and commercial buildings in Massachusetts and has tripled its local staff to 45 from 15 since September. Among SolarCity’s customers is Tom McDougall, 53, of Whitman. SolarCity installed a 6-kilowatt system on the roof of McDougall’s two-story Colonial. Since the system began operating in February, McDougall said, he has cut his electricity bills in half, paying SolarCity about $60 a month for electricity, compared with the $115 a month, on average, that he paid his utility. “I’m starting to reap the benefits of it,” McDougall said. The state has done much to promote growth in the solar sector as it chases a goal of installing 250 megawatts of solar generating capacity by 2017, enough to power at least 37,500 homes. For example, the state offers rebates averaging about $2,000 per installation through programs such as Commonwealth Solar, which is funded at about $1 million a quarter through a state energy fund. In addition, Massachusetts has created a market for solar renewable energy credits, which solar project owners can sell to power plant operators to meet state regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gases. The money from those sales helps further lower the cost of solar power." Solar, both passive and active, does work well all around the USA. We all benefit from the ever increasing solar industry here as the technology advances and prices naturally continue dropping.
Alfied Champion Author Riverside Posts:7,940 Points:1,756,260 Joined:Jun 2001	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 12:27:00 AM Ignore Alfied Report Abuse Waste!
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,008 Points:1,112,420 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 12:21:15 AM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Seems that Mass. got smart again.....
kgbellman Champion Author Ann Arbor Posts:2,713 Points:732,590 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 12:10:57 AM Ignore kgbellman Report Abuse Let's hope they make it successful
METEOR49 Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,172 Points:455,225 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 12:07:47 AM Ignore METEOR49 Report Abuse making solar panels creates a lot of pollution that's why they are made in china.
miser709 Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:1,268 Points:1,069,925 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 12:03:08 AM Ignore miser709 Report Abuse Good for Mass.
GigHarborHound Champion Author Tacoma Posts:2,537 Points:488,490 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 12:02:04 AM Ignore GigHarborHound Report Abuse Subsidized!!!
Teddy95 Champion Author Dayton Posts:41,150 Points:2,697,100 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 12:01:31 AM Ignore Teddy95 Report Abuse Hmmm...
dieselme2011 Champion Author Vancouver Posts:2,600 Points:603,815 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 12:00:34 AM Ignore dieselme2011 Report Abuse To expensive
TXRanger09 Champion Author Dallas Posts:2,511 Points:892,150 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: May 28, 2012 12:00:26 AM Ignore TXRanger09 Report Abuse Texas has the same amount of sunny days as California and would be perfect for solar energy. But for some reason (oil & ng companies) we have not exploited this additional resource. Hell, Iran wants nuclear power to be able to sell all it's oil energy. (Yeah, right.) Why wouldn't Texas want to do the same? Maybe a third of this posts readers can follow this.
jjfisher All-Star Author Toledo Posts:547 Points:749,460 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:59:59 PM Ignore jjfisher Report Abuse The cost of solar panels needs to come down.
jessek Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,657 Points:1,280,490 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:58:54 PM Ignore jessek Report Abuse I'd still put my money into wind turbines.
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:9,857 Points:1,613,225 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:57:27 PM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse We need solar collectors on every south-facing roof in the country. Prices are falling and efficiency is rising. It will happen over time. We have to get past fossil fuels.
CiVX Champion Author Oakland Posts:7,055 Points:1,359,610 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:57:22 PM Ignore CiVX Report Abuse Pretty slow if you ask me.
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,071 Points:1,732,210 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:55:33 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse mass the sunshine state
bonzoonfmb Champion Author Florida Posts:1,782 Points:645,035 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:52:52 PM Ignore bonzoonfmb Report Abuse Crooked backroom kickback deals.
69Bonne Champion Author Gary Posts:1,155 Points:474,125 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:52:25 PM Ignore 69Bonne Report Abuse Solar efficiency needs to improve more to make it more beneficial.
Holly123 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:3,202 Points:790,210 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:49:37 PM Ignore Holly123 Report Abuse COOL.
WIPACKERFAN Champion Author Chicago Posts:8,804 Points:1,843,450 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:48:25 PM Ignore WIPACKERFAN Report Abuse Good for them. There needs to be expansion.
OilOnTheCheap Champion Author Ventura Posts:2,102 Points:450,385 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:44:13 PM Ignore OilOnTheCheap Report Abuse Massachusetts’s becoming a leader in solar … who saw that coming?
tobasco Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:7,346 Points:2,109,085 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:43:06 PM Ignore tobasco Report Abuse ??? I thought their was no way the Kennedy's would allow "ugly" solar panels in the sunny parts of Massachusetts.
kgbellman Champion Author Ann Arbor Posts:2,713 Points:732,590 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:39:49 PM Ignore kgbellman Report Abuse Let's hope they make it successful
JENNYHK Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,641 Points:713,545 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:37:03 PM Ignore JENNYHK Report Abuse Nice.
gass12 Champion Author Omaha Posts:8,394 Points:2,304,690 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:36:10 PM Ignore gass12 Report Abuse Who really cares.
tippybuddy Champion Author Ontario Posts:1,523 Points:207,740 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:35:56 PM Ignore tippybuddy Report Abuse good
RAKARWOWSKI Champion Author Chicago Posts:4,000 Points:821,025 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:32:31 PM Ignore RAKARWOWSKI Report Abuse Great.
evac93rd Champion Author Atlanta Posts:36,235 Points:3,666,905 Joined:Feb 2003	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:30:38 PM Ignore evac93rd Report Abuse Well as long as NO Federal subsidies are involved...oh I made a funny.
fuelsaverMN Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,282 Points:559,080 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:30:25 PM Ignore fuelsaverMN Report Abuse THE COST OF SOLAR IS TOO HIGH FOR MOST PEOPLE.
pinkelefant Champion Author Sacramento Posts:19,591 Points:2,661,580 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:28:02 PM Ignore pinkelefant Report Abuse Come to California and see us flourishing
CAroadrunner101 Champion Author California Posts:1,827 Points:1,316,175 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:24:51 PM Ignore CAroadrunner101 Report Abuse big whoop...
OOXXFF Champion Author Greensboro Posts:3,063 Points:1,079,405 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 11:24:32 PM Ignore OOXXFF Report Abuse Wonderful!!!!!!