Massachusetts National Grid plans to install solar panels at 19 sites across the state at a cost of $75 million.
This will be one of the largest solar facilities in the history of the state.
The entire projects will have the capacity to produce around 16 MW of solar energy.
The locations vary from Attleboro to Sturbridge, each generating less than a megawatt of power per site.
The plants will add up 50,000 solar panels, producing enough electricity to power 3,200 homes a year.
The construction of all sites is expected to complete by June 2015.
The new installations will be owned and maintained by the National Grid.
The utility has earlier built around 5 MW of solar facilities across the state.
In 2007, the state has passed Green Communities Act with an aim to build 250 megawatts of solar-power capacity by 2017.
According to the act, each utility is allowed to own solar facilities that can generate a combined 50 megawatts of electricity.
In 2013, state renovated the goal for the setting up of 1,600 megawatts of solar-power capacity by 2020.
Right now, Massachusetts owns 700 megawatts of solar-power capacity at various sites, supported by government subsidies and dropping market prices of panels and equipment.
Once completed, National Grid will own 24 facilities with a combined solar-power capacity of 21 megawatts.
Its newest facilities will be located in Abington, Attleboro, Ayer, Brockton, Charlton, Dighton, Fall River, Grafton, Leicester, Millbury, Shirley, and Sturbridge.
Sabeena Wahid
[email protected]