Centered around placing energy governance in the hands of the consumer, the Boston Community Solar Cooperative held an informational meeting for Boston communities.
By Mia Amaral
On September 13th, the Boston Community Solar Cooperative held an informational meeting discussing the importance of community solar projects and the potential benefits they bring to numerous Boston communities. The “We Got the Power Workshop” centered around putting communities first, and using solar energy to benefit themselves, placing energy governance in the hands of the consumer. The cooperative is equity-driven and built for renters, small organizations, and communities.
The Boston Community Solar Cooperative works to develop community solar projects that benefit everyone, and keeps solar panels on community rooftops, keeping them local to Boston. The co-op is committed to bringing equitable renewable energy projects to environmental justice communities. Their first project was on the rooftop of VietAID and the Dorchester Food Co-op. VietAID is a non-profit organization working to alleviate poverty and increase civic participation in Vietnamese American communities. This installation was the first solar panel roof on a food co-op. The benefits from this project were given back to VietAID, providing the co-op with a reduced energy bill.
The Boston Community Solar Cooperative does not work alone, partnering with Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE). ACE has been a well-established environmental justice nonprofit for over 30 years, combating environmental racism and striving to provide energy, financial, and technological justice to all communities. ACE is a joint developer alongside Boston Community Solar, ensuring all workers are sourced from Boston during construction, providing clean-energy job opportunities to local communities.
Site acquisition has been the most pressing issue for the Boston Community Solar Cooperative. There is a struggle to find rooftops or parking lots to implement a solar array. Additionally, federal cuts for solar projects prove difficult for the cooperative, making future project installations increasingly difficult.
The “We Got the Power Workshop” held by the Boston Community Solar Cooperative and ACE brought community members together in an open discussion, allowing everyone to ask questions and explore the potential of clean energy within the community. As SAFE explores public power possibilities in Salem and drives just transition, we were grateful to be in the community and learn from folks implementing these projects now.
Mia Amaral is SAFE’s Programs Intern.