WESTFORD — Gov. Deval Patrick flipped the switch on the largest privately owned solar park in New England yesterday and acknowledged the state is committed to reaching its solar-energy goals set in 2008.

A 4.5-megawatt solar-panel field known as Westford Solar Park, with more than 14,000 panels, sits on 22 acres in a former quarry on Route 40 near Route 3. It was developed by Boston-based Cathartes Private Investments and solar-energy producer Nexamp.

The park celebrated its first phase of completion in October.

A report released this week by Mass Inc., an independent, nonpartisan think tank, assessed the state’s response to climate change. It gave recommendations needed to reach Patrick’s goal of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2020.

When it came to solar, the report recommended the state monitor the costs of solar energy and make adjustments to its solar programs, if necessary.

“Up to now, the state’s solar programs have not been a significant factor in overall electricity prices because the quantity of solar installed represents a small share of total electricity generation. But as the installation targets for solar increase over time, it could become a larger driver of electricity prices, especially if the cost of installations does not continue to fall.”

Patrick challenged the report’s assertion that solar power hasn’t impacted electricity prices.

“First of all, electricity rates are down 40 percent over the last four or five years,” he said in an interview. “Second of all, the whole move toward energy efficiency and alternatives is about long-term cost control. It’s not about immediate payoff.

“If we could have arrays of this size scaled up in rapid order, then we could have a much more immediate impact,” said Patrick. “This project is a profound example of the progress that we’re making.”

The report acknowledged that in passing and implementing the Green Communities Act and Global Warming Solutions Act the legislation was an “impressive and far-reaching accomplishment.”

“The strategy is working,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard Sullivan. “We will hit the goal the governor set back in 2008 to have 250 megawatts of solar online by 2017. We’re going to be halfway there by the end of this calendar year.”

Jim Goldenberg, principal of Cathartes, pointed out the cost of photovoltaic panels has decreased significantly from $10 per watt in 1990 to $0.85 per watt.

Goldenberg said the state’s initiatives made the Westford Solar Park possible.

Patrick was presented a Solar Champion Award recognizing him as a leader in solar energy from the Solar Energies Industries Association, a national trade association.

Patrick said the legislation and implementation has increased solar-related jobs in the state by 6.7 percent in 2011 and that increase is expected to double in 2012.

While the Westford Solar Park is an example of the success in the state’s solar industry, Marlboro-based Evergreen Solar Inc.’s filing for bankruptcy last year signaled a failure.

The company blamed bankruptcy on increased competition from government-subsidized solar-panel makers in China and the failure of the U.S. government to adopt clean-energy policies.

Evergreen Solar had received millions in state grants and tax incentives to build its Devens factory.

At the federal level, solar-panel manufacturer Solyndra filed for bankruptcy last year after receiving millions in federal loan guarantees.

UMass Lowell is one of the recipients of the energy produced at the Westford Solar Park as an off-take purchaser.

Chancellor Marty Meehan said UML is the first campus in the UMass system to purchase energy from a solar park. He said the agreement is expected to save UML $800,000 over 20 years.

“We’re proud to be part of this project and proud to be a leader in environmental sustainability,” he said.

Follow Sarah Favot at twitter.com/sarahfavot.