Diligence, advocacy pays off for Yarmouth solar panel customers

YARMOUTH — The Select Board’s approval on Nov. 17 of an agreement between the town and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center spells relief for 50 households that lost thousands of dollars in a solarize program that went belly-up.

Yarmouth residents who lost anywhere from $8,677 to $46,376 will have a chance to be made whole once the agreement moves forward, according to Select Board Chairman Michael Stone.

Stone called the agreement an incredible accomplishment, adding it was “almost too good to be true.”

What is the history of this dispute?

The troubles began in March 2021 after Solar Wolf Energy was contracted to provide solar panel service and installation to Yarmouth residents under a Massachusetts Solarize Program. Solar Wolf owner Ted Strzelecki took down payments and payments in full for the solar projects, but either never started or never completed the projects. Solar Wolf ceased operations in May 2022 and filed for bankruptcy in September 2022.

Because residents signed individual contracts with Solar Wolf, and because neither the town nor the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center were legally involved, people who lost money had no hope of collecting damages from Strzelecki.

It took 18 months of "strong and diligent advocacy" to develop the innovative agreement, according to Yarmouth Select Board member Mark Forest.

The Yarmouth assistance program is a joint effort between the Clean Energy Center and SunPower, to be offered in collaboration with a SunPower-certified installer based in Massachusetts, the town of Yarmouth, Yarmouth community volunteers, and program participants, according to the document.

SunPower Corporation —a leader in the solar panel industry — will provide panels of equivalent value to program participants. The panels are more efficient than the previous ones, provide the same wattage, cover less roof space, and have a 25-year warranty, according to Joyce Flynn, chairwoman of the Yarmouth Energy Committee. Solar Wolf offered SunPower panels in the original contracts with residents.

“This is a great approach by Mass CEC and a credit to them and SunPower to put this together to make everybody essentially whole,” said Yarmouth Assistant Town Administrator William Scott.

The town needed to approve the agreement before beginning outreach efforts to Yarmouth residents who were impacted. Scott said the town will develop the tenets of the program and create a list of Frequently Asked Questions to send to people as they move forward.

Flynn said some details still need to be worked out. Some homeowners paid Solar Wolf for roof work necessary before solar panels could be properly mounted. Because SunPower does not perform roof work, those homeowners may need to apply to the state Home Improvement Contractor Arbitration and Guaranty Fund. The Guaranty Fund program can compensate eligible consumers up to $10,000 for unpaid judgments against contractors.

Denise Coffey writes about business and tourism. Contact her at dcoffey@capecodonline.com.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Yarmouth homeowners get good news on solar panels after 18 long months