EmPower FY22 Energy Allies Milestone 7 - Community-led solar in Boston - Lessons Learned Case Study

Sep 12, 2026

Upload by Jasmine

Milestone 7 case study examines community-led solar development in Boston as part of EmPower FY22 Energy Allies work. It highlights inequities in Massachusetts community solar allocation and energy efficiency uptake, noting persistent barriers for low-to-moderate income and BI POC communities. The report traces project development capacity, siting and community advisory board activities, staffing and management, recruitment and payment, and funding sustainability. It concludes with challenges, successes, and actionable recommendations for a more just and equitable clean energy transition.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages37

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

Introduction and Background

Project Development Capacity

Identifying a location

Siting process

Community-led solar

Community Needs and Outreach

Community Advisory Board

Recruitment and Payment

Community Advisory Board Meetings

Initial design and planning

Boston Community Solar Cooperative

Establishing a Co-op

First Solar Array

Membership Recruitment and Expansion

Challenges

Siting

CAB Attrition

Sustained Funding

Successes

Recommendations

Community Advisory Board Process

Project management and staffing

Next steps

Acknowledgements

Appendix

Table of Contents Table of Contents...................................................................................................................... 2 Executive Summary................................................................................................................ 3 Introduction and Background.............................................................................................. 4 Project Development Capacity............................................................................................ 5 Identifying a location..................................................................................................................................................... 6 Siting process...................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Community-led solar............................................................................................................. 9 Community Needs and Outreach........................................................................................................................ 11 Community Advisory Board................................................................................................ 12 Recruitment and Payment................................................................................................................................ 12 Community Advisory Board Meetings......................................................................................................14 Initial design and planning...............................................................................................................................14 Boston Community Solar Cooperative............................................................................. 20 Establishing a Co-op........................................................................................................................................... 20 First Solar Array........................................................................................................................................................ 22 Membership Recruitment and Expansion.............................................................................................23 Challenges............................................................................................................................. 25 Siting................................................................................................................................................................................25 CAB Attrition............................................................................................................................................................... 26 Sustained Funding.................................................................................................................................................26 Successes............................................................................................................................... 27 Recommendations............................................................................................................... 29 Community Advisory Board Process........................................................................................................ 29 Project management and staffing............................................................................................................ 32 Next steps............................................................................................................................... 33 Acknowledgements............................................................................................................. 35 Appendix......................................................................................................................

FAQs

Why does the report emphasize energy justice for low-to-moderate income and BI POC communities?

It argues that clean energy access and program uptake remain inequitable in Massachusetts, and that without a community-led energy justice movement, electrification may worsen high energy burdens for the most impacted communities.

What barriers are described as limiting participation in energy conversations?

The report cites high barriers to entry, including technical jargon, legal dockets, complex policy, and the lasting effects of discriminatory and predatory practices that discourage people from advocating effectively.

How does the case study structure community-led solar implementation in Boston?

It covers project development capacity, identifying and siting locations, community outreach and advisory board activities, recruitment and payment approaches, and initial design and planning before detailing cooperative establishment and array development.

Sep 12, 2026

Upload by Jasmine