LONGMEADOW/SPRINGFIELD – With electricity costs on the rise as well as a greater concern for the environment and maintaining sustainable energy when possible, the town of Longmeadow and the city of Springfield have recently come together in a “solarize” program to work to provide residents with solar energy at a lower cost.

Solar coaches Mike Kocsmiersky and Steve Marantz of Solarize Springfield and Solarize Longmeadow, respectively, both represent the Solarize program for the two towns. Kocsmiersky became involved in the program as he has been a volunteer with the city’s Green Committee for the past eight years. Additionally, he had volunteered with the working group for the CARP planning process in 2017 and has worked in the solar industry since 1999.

On the other hand, Marantz is a proponent of clean energy, with his major passion being climate change.  Marantz installed solar panels on his home a few years ago, and has been enjoying reaping the benefits of a negative electric bill since.

By entering into the Solarize program, interested Longmeadow and Springfield residents are able to install solar energy on their homes at a lower cost.

“The cost effectiveness is as good as you are going to get,” Kocsmiersky said. “Our base price is 30 percent off the state average. Average price will be around 20 percent off the state average. You won’t ever find this good of a financial opportunity again with solar electric systems for several reasons, like the elimination of the federal tax credit, and the reduction of the SMART value tariff.”

Kocsmiersky describes how the Solarize program came to be for Springfield as part of the Climate Action Resiliency Plan under a grant that Springfield and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) received.

“Several community outreach sessions were held to hear from residents about what they wanted for a more resilient city,” Kocsmiersky explained to Reminder Publishing. “There were also studies done by the PVPC, Umass and others that analyzed climate science data to create recommendations as well.”

The studies, Kocsmierskystated, showed that citizens of Springfield wanted the city to be more responsive to constituent concerns and that an increase in renewable solar energy was desired.

“After the acceptance of the plan by the City Council and the Mayor [Sarno] in 2017 or 2018, the city again partnered with the PVPC to apply for the Mass Clean Energy Center’s Solarize Grant,” he said.

Marantz shared that the first step in Longmeadow’s process to the Solarize program was completing the application to the state to participate. While Springfield and Longmeadow were joint applicants, he noted, each community had to submit its own application by May 31, 2018.

“As we had every expectation of being accepted, I went about forming a volunteer group whose purpose is to help publicize the Solarize program to Longmeadow residents,” Marantz said.

Solarize Longmeadow had a booth at Long Meddowe Days and the Longmeadow Farmers market for the duration of the summer of 2018, spreading word to residents that the solarize program was in town and ready for people to sign up and learn more about installing solar panels on homes at a lower cost. Springfield on the other hand, has had a more challenging time reaching out to residents.

“Springfield has found it more difficult than anticipated to get people’s attention, with the amount of activities going on in the city,” Marantz said. “We are about eight weeks into the program and we can now start to feel the momentum of our outreach.”

The installer of the solar panels through the Solarize Program was chosen with assistance from the state as the Clean Energy Center sent out the request for proposal (RFP) and provided technical advice on the submitted RFP’s.

“We had 12 submissions and interviewed four firms before deciding on Solar Flair in late November,” Marantz said.

Currently, both towns are seeing different levels of movement on the program.

“At present, Longmeadow has had about six people go into contract with the selected installer. They are ahead of Springfield, there doesn’t appear to be as much noise vying for everyone’s attention in Longmeadow, and we have found it a bit easier to get the word out,” Kocsmiersky explained. “I don’t know the exact number of inquiries, site visits conducted and contracts signed for Springfield, but as we get further into the campaign, these numbers will be flushed out. At present, we had about 100 to 150 people who expressed interest while we were tabling this summer at the farmers market, the Mattoon Street Arts Festival and other places.”

Over the course of 2019, individuals who have previously gone into contract with the installer will begin the process of obtaining building permits, electrical permits and entering into an interconnection agreement with the utility company.

“What most people don’t realize is that getting a solar array installed is typically a six month process after the signing of the contract. Sometimes this is shrunk to three months if things go swimmingly,” Kocsmiersky stated. “The actual construction is quite quick, then allow two weeks for the city to perform its inspections.”

Following inspections, the reports are sent to Eversource and then Eversource begins a review.  This process can take up to three weeks, and an additional three weeks to swap out the meter.

“Thus after the physical installation you might be two months before getting permission to interconnect from the utility. Sometimes this process goes very smooth and very quickly, but be prepared for time spans longer than you would think,” Kocsmiersky cautions individuals who are considering signing up for the program.

For those who may be interested in inquiring regarding the Springfield Solarize program, contact Kocsmiersky at mikek@spiritsolar.net. For residents of Longmeadow interested in Longmeadow’s program, reach out to Marantz at solarizelongmeadow@gmail.com.