Massachusetts To Lease Solar Panels, Save Residents Cost, Energy

Boston, MA (AHN) - Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signed on Wednesday the Green Communities Act which reduces state dependence on fossil fuel and encourage a shift to cleaner forms of energy.

The new law requires utility firms to design customized plans for homeowners and businesses that would reduce energy costs and grant rebates for residents and business owners who would install insulating windows and more efficient boilers in their units.

To make the use of solar panels more affordable, sun panels for lease from utility companies would be made available and homeowners with surplus power from their wind turbines and solar panels would be allowed to sell their excess energy.

The law is timely as it would save Massachusetts residents millions of dollars at a time when fuel and energy bills are on an all-time high.

The law set targets for utilities to increase their use of renewable energy by 4 percent in 2009, 15 percent in 2020 and 25 percent in 2030.