New England’s solar panels paid off big during the 2026 heatwave

According to a new report from Acadia Center, during the heat wave that hit New England between June 28 and July 4, distributed solar projects contributed more than six gigawatts in electricity, saving ratepayers about $130-$149 million collectively.On July 2 alone, the report found that solar arrays saved $39 million to $54 million and solar contributed more power to the grid than the region’s nuclear fleet that afternoon.