Project Focus: WMECo celebrates completion of 1.8MW solar installation in Pittsfield

Just over a year ago, the Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECo) got approval from the Department of Public Utilities to build 6MW of solar facilities in the New England region over the next two years and the first of its projects has come to a successful completion at the William Stanley Business Park in Pittsfield. The 1.8MW solar installation is the first in the 6MW solar program and is situated on eight acres of land owned by WMECo and the Pittsfield Economic Development using around 6,500 solar panels.

“WMECo’s Silver Lake solar project is an important contribution to the Commonwealth’s pursuit of a clean energy future. Situated in Pittsfield, it also joins a growing solar cluster in the Berkshires that is critical to meeting Governor Patrick’s goal to have 250MW of solar power installed by 2017,” Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles said. “Large projects such as this provide economies of scale that reduce the cost of this clean, renewable energy source. I’m glad to see our utilities going greener and look forward to more of it in the years ahead.”