Harvard has six times more solar projects than it did nine months ago and the program that prompted them may receive national recognition.

The Solarize Massachusetts Pilot Project is one of three finalists for Innovation of the Year in the policy category of Renewable Energy World’s annual awards, said Elizabeth Youngblood, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center project coordinator. The award is chosen by a group of editors of renewable energy publications.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center launched the Solarize Massachusetts Pilot Project in four towns last April to encourage residents and business to go solar as a community. In six months, the project contracted a total of 829 kilowatts of solar photovoltaic energy, almost half of it, 402.5 kilowatts, in Harvard alone. Under the program, Harvard added 75 individual solar projects to its existing 13.

New England Breeze of Hudson worked with local volunteers to inform residents about the program and the reduced-cost photovoltaic systems the company offered in conjunction with the state’s Commonwealth Solar II grants and federal tax credits.

According to a recent MassCEC press release, Hatfield signed up 22 systems for 147 kilowatts, Scituate 30 systems for 115.2 kilowatts, and Winchester 35 systems totaling 164.6 kilowatts.

Phase I of Harvard’s Community Solar Garden will begin construction shortly, adding another 235 kilowatts serving 33 residents and three businesses.

The pilot project is also eligible for a Reader’s Choice Award that will be determined by the number of online votes a project receives. To vote for the Renewable Energy World’s Readers’ Choice award, go to www.renewableenergyworld.com and to the "Awards" tab. Voting closes on Friday, Jan. 20.