Rooftop Solar, Batteries Light the Way in New England
By Drew Williamson
© 2026 Williamson News Service LLC
An emphasis on rooftop solar energy has greatly increased the reliability of the New England power grid and reduced the need for burning natural gas that produces heat and other air pollution, according to Independent System Operator New England (ISO-NE), the group tasked with managing the regional power grid.
The volume of electricity generated from rooftop solar panels mostly offsets that of natural gas, and it has shifted the region’s winter fuel risk profile. About 8.4% of the total electricity used in New England in 2025 came from rooftop solar panels. https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/09/30/rooftop-solar-growth-makes-giant-new-england-gas-plant-obsolete-as-region-hits-500th-duck-curve-day/
Because rooftop solar systems are “behind the meter” (BTM), they don’t report to a central information management system. The ISO-NE estimates the figures by comparing total electricity used to numbers supplied through metered sources, such as local power utilities.
ISO-NE produces daily graphs that show actual demand for utility generated power compared to what the demand would be without rooftop solar power. The graph, called a “duck curve,” is named for its fun shape.
“A duck curve happens anytime electricity demand is lower at midday than overnight. This can happen on sunny days when behind-the-meter photovoltaics (BTM PV) reduce demand on the bulk power system operated by ISO New England.” https://isonewswire.com/2026/09/21/500-duck-curves-and-counting-growth-of-solar-power-brings-another-new-england-electricity-milestone/
“The continuing growth of solar power brought New England to a new electricity milestone today (Sept. 21): 500 “duck curve” days … It took nearly five years for the region to accumulate its first 100 duck curve days. But it only took about 13 months to add 100 more. The pace has been increasing ever since, to the point where there were only 221 days between the 400th and 500th duck curves. The 500th, which happened on Sept. 21, was the 107th duck curve of 2026.”
In addition to rooftop solar generation, home and utility scale battery systems are yielding good results in Vermont as well.
“Green Mountain Power (GMP)has turned more than 5,500 home batteries into Vermont's largest power source, a 110-megawatt virtual plant that kept lights on through storms and cut millions from peak costs.” https://www.webpronews.com/vermonts-biggest-power-plant-has-no-chimney-it-lives-in-5500-homes/
GMP offers a lease program that will put two batteries in a customer’s home for $55/month on a 10-year lease. The batteries can be combined with a rooftop solar panel system to further lower the cost of electricity and reduce peak demand on the grid.
I am a freelance writer in Arizona. My professional expertise includes newspaper reporting and editing, advertising sales and management, and investment advising and retirement planning. I have a BA in Journalism/Political Science from the UA in Tucson and a MBA in Strategic Management from ASU in Tempe. I am a proud member of the Valley of the Sun Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ).