GreenTechSolar
Katherine Tweed
December 4, 2014
For public housing authorities across Massachusetts, the sun does not have to shine on their rooftops to grant them the benefit of solar power.
SunEdison has inked sixteen separate power-purchase agreements with public housing authorities across Massachusetts over the last year, all of which involve net metering credits for solar PV arrays installed elsewhere in the utility’s territory.
“We’ve very proud to partner with this many housing authorities,” said Steve Raeder, managing director of sales for SunEdison.
About three years ago, SunEdison won the solicitation to be the solar provider for PowerOptions, the largest energy-buying consortium in Massachusetts. PowerOptions provides energy supply to nonprofits as well as government entities.
More than 500 PowerOptions members can leverage the contract that has been hammered out with SunEdison, although there is some room to tailor it for each institution. SunEdison, and its financing partners, including its YieldCo, TerraForm Power, will own and operate the solar systems.
“Traditional, onsite rooftop solar is difficult,” said Raeder. “Virtual net metering is optimal to engage any physically constrained customer.”
The sixteen housing authorities in Massachusetts that have signed PPAs with SunEdison will receive net metering credits for electricity generated by more than ten solar systems installed across the state. The housing authorities, which span from New Bedford to Northampton, will collectively save an estimated $60 million in electricity costs over the next twenty years, and that is a conservative figure, said Raeder.
The next step for SunEdison is to try to replicate the work in Massachusetts with other housing authorities, but there are challenges. PowerOptions is a unique organization; many other housing authorities are not represented by a similar group that does the power purchasing. For full article.