Berkshire Botanical Garden Announces New Solar Project

Berkshire Botanical Garden, one of the oldest public gardens in the United States, is marking the culmination of its 90th anniversary year with a significant step toward sustainability: the installation of a state-of-the-art solar panel system.

“We are thrilled to announce this project as we close a milestone year in our history,” said BBG Executive Director Mike Beck. “This initiative underscores the Garden’s commitment to environmental stewardship and reducing its carbon footprint, while inspiring visitors to embrace sustainable practices.”

Slated for installation in early 2025, the new system will include 102 solar panels on the roof of BBG’s Education Building. Once completed, these panels will begin generating power to offset more than 67 percent of BBG’s current electricity use, in a carbon neutral way.

The project involves a significant upfront cost of $121,000, but BBG qualifies for a 30 percent IRS credit for this environmentally sound investment. In addition, BBG’s has announced a generous $45,132 match from Tern Foundation’s TernSOLAR Challenge Grant Program. The Program is designed to expand renewable energy use in Massachusetts communities, making solar energy more accessible to nonprofits. Since TernSOLAR is structured as a challenge grant, BBG has begun a fundraising initiative to raise the remaining $45,132 to match the Tern Foundation grant.

The TernSOLAR grant program has funded 25 solar projects and associated environmental education initiatives throughout the Commonwealth.

BBG’s project calls for a photovoltaic system on the metal roof of its existing Education Building near the southern edge of its property. The roof is ideally situated with southern/western exposure that will not require the removal of any trees. BBG has contracted with solar provider Northeast Solar for the planning, permitting and installation of the system. The project includes a utility interconnection agreement with utility provider National Grid that will allow any excess electrical production to offset electrical use throughout BBG’s grounds and buildings.

Once the system is live, BBG will realize about $13,000 in annual savings, at current electricity prices.

Please consider donating to our solar panel project.