By Peter Flannery

The City of Boston, under the guidance of Mayor Menino and Environmental and Energy Services Chief James Hunt, released the Solar Boston Permitting Guide in October 2010. The guide is the culmination of a process that includes the inspectional services department, the fire department and the Mayors Environmental Task Force.

The guide consists of a brief overview of Solar Boston, a program begun by the City to assist with the development of Solar Energy Resources in the city to meet the Mayor’s goal of achieving 25 MW of Solar generated electricity by 2020.

The major points of the guide include the need for a structural engineer’s (PE) drawings and specifications for all Solar Energy Systems. That is, all Photovoltaic Solar Energy Systems which produce electricity. The guide does not include Solar Thermal Systems that generate Domestic Hot Water or Building Heat. The areas of various interconnections with NSTAR are also pointed out due to the presence of different electrical grid systems in parts of the city which require a more sophisticated interconnection. Permits must be received by the inspectional services department, the fire department and NSTAR for the project to be approved.

The guide also discusses the technical details of a Solar Energy System, its components, wiring and mounting systems. A system consists of the panels, each approximately 3 by 5 feet made by companies such as Evergreen Solar and Schott Solar, the structural components which hold the panels to the roof, the various wiring details and the interconnection area consisting of the electric meters, inverter and NSTAR Connection.

In order to promote Solar System installations a complete chapter is dedicated to incentives and financing. Various financing packages are available to help an owner install the system. One package allows the owner to lease the system for a little money up front ($ 1000 +-) and reduce their electricity costs by an average of 20% per year. There are other incentives and monies available and pointed out in the guide.
To get assistance with your Solar Energy System installation a contractors list provides names of companies such as Borrego Solar, NEXAMP, GroSolar  and many others provided by the Boston Area Solar Energy Association ( BASEA ).These companies can provide a turn key approach to the installation. They are all reputable and very experienced in this field.

If you are interested in installing a solar energy system in the Fenway area, Solar Fenway can provide guidance and a helping hand (www.solarfenway.org).  It is lead by Sajed Kamal, solar energy expert, professor and author of The Renewable Revolution: How We Can Fight Climate Change, Prevent Energy Wars, Revitalize the Economy and Transition to a Sustainable Future (Earthscan, 2010), available through www.amazon.com.   Solar Fenway, whose other current members are Rosie Kamal, Ted Joyce, Samina Ali, Peter Flannery and Kathy McBride, has been working on promoting the use of solar energy in the Fenway area since 2002.  It has installed two solar systems, one on the Fenway Views condominiums and affordable housing building and the other on the Boston Arts Academy. Solar Fenway’s current focus is on its Solar Community Pioneer Project, with the goal of installing 10-plus solar systems in the Fenway during 2011-12.

In conclusion, the Solar Boston Permitting Guide released by the city should provide the needed comprehensive approach to lead the city in the direction of generating 25 megawatts of solar electricity by 2020, turning Boston, as Mayor Menino put it, from “Beantown into Greentown”!  The Guide is available on the City of Boston Website under the dept of Environmental and Energy Services, www.cityofboston.gov/environmentalandenergy.

Peter Flannery is a member of Solar Fenway and lives in the East Fens.