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    Boston Mayor Wu, GreenRoots launching Solarize Eastie to boost Renewables in historic neighborhood

    May 11, 2022
    The Solarize Eastie program will provide payment support for installations, including a 15% discount on solar PV installation costs, subsidies for income-eligible building owners and no-cost options
    Image credit ArnoldReinhold, Wikimedia Commons
    East Boston Greenway
    East Boston Greenway

    Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and the city are working to increase solar panel and on-site battery storage installation in the historic neighborhood called East Boston.

    Wu launched the Solarize Eastie pilot program in partnership with the environmental organization GreenRoots to increase solar panel installation and onsite battery storage in East Boston. The city has also been selected for Mass Save’s Community First Partnership to provide cost-saving energy efficiency solutions to businesses, residents and organisations in East Boston, Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan.

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    The Solarize Eastie program will provide payment support for installations, including a 15% discount on solar PV installation costs, subsidies for income-eligible building owners and no-cost options. The aim of the program is to reduce GHG emissions by boosting solar and battery storage adoption in East Boston and making it accessible to low- and moderate-income residents. ACE Solar and Resonant Energy will lead the installation process.

    "Solarize Eastie gives East Boston residents accessibility to make real choices in the way they power their homes and community," said John Walkey, Director of Waterfront and Climate Initiatives, GreenRoots. "GreenRoots is thrilled to partner with the City of Boston and ACE Solar to enhance energy justice in East Boston. For too long, immigrants and people of color have been left out of the solar economy and they must be centered in our energy democracy efforts."

    Meanwhile, the Mass Save Community First Partnership will offer energy efficiency opportunities to residents to reduce emissions, ensure cost savings and increase comfort. Participants can obtain an energy assessment to identify energy-saving opportunities, like heating and cooling equipment upgrades and insulation upgrades. Mass Save Sponsors will offer up to 100% of the costs for the approved upgrades. Participants will also receive no-cost energy-saving products, like programmable thermostats and water-saving devices.

    East Boston has long been known for its immigrant population dating back to Irish families moving there in the 1800s. The neighborhood currently has more than 45,000 residents, while more than those are Hispanic, according to non-profit demographic studies and the U.S. Census Bureau.

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.