There’s no question that demand for green energy is up, with many consumers even willing to pay a premium for access to it. But for the most part, homeowners’ ability to use to the technology has been limited; either you got lucky and lived near a utility willing to provide it, or you shelled out thousands on a speciality project.

But a new program from the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company, and nearby photovoltaic manufacturer Evergreen Solar looks to reduce costs and increase availability for local homeowners looking to go green with their home power and heating needs.  MMWEC, a non-profit group that provides power services to municipal electric companies around the state has contracted to buy 500 kilowatts of solar panel power; after MMWEC passes these panels on to its local subsidiaries, consumers will be able to purchase them directly.

While not as simple a solution as heading down to the solar department at Home Depot, this service bridges a tremendous gap in green tech availability for the average consumer.  Plus, as individual solar-powered homes spring up, the visibility of private solar power will increase dramatically, quite possibly taking interest in the technology along with it.