Free Massachusetts Solar Incentives: Claim Solar Panels (Open Enrollment)

The Bay State offers direct and indirect Massachusetts solar incentives from the federal and state governments. This is one of many reasons MA is one of the top states for solar energy in the United States.

Residents and businesses can take advantage of these incentives, and there are financial reasons to do so. Solar energy can save money.

Multiple energy companies like National Grid were forced into a position where 64 percent of customers saw their energy bills increase in November 2022.⁴ Solar energy can offset such utility increases by reducing your energy costs and making you independent from the grid.

This comprehensive guide outlines the available Massachusetts solar incentives and other solar power information for the state, as well as the steps for open enrollment for residential solar incentive options at both the state and federal level.

Programs That Massachusetts Is Using To Make Solar Panels Affordable to Residents

Primary incentives in Massachusetts for solar energy include tax credits and exemptions; both of which help residents save in different ways.

These incentives also paved the way for Massachusetts to become one of the states to have a high electricity capacity for solar energy, ranking number 11 among the 50 US states for solar adoption.

Here is a list of available programs in Massachusetts:^1,2

• Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target: SMART
• Residential Renewable Energy Income Tax Credit
• Property and Sales Tax Exemptions For Solar Installation
• The Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

Massachusetts Residential Renewable Energy Income Tax Credit

Massachusetts’ tax credit is listed as 15% of the system cost presented against an individual’s income tax up to a $1,000 credit.⁸

How Solar Credits Work With Taxes

Tax credits represent a dollar-for-dollar amount taxpayers can claim.⁶ This reduces how much tax they owe.

Ultimately, this will diminish annual tax liability for those eligible. Tax refunds may be potentially increased.

We’re going to explore each solar credit option. There are websites that you can check to see a list of renewable options in Massachusetts.⁷

The following incentives are available for Massachusetts residents.

Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target: SMART

SMART helps to power solar energy across MA. It’s a tariff-based incentive.

This is paid to utility companies that serve those who own solar energy systems. Eligibility requires a successful application.

To translate that: the utility company pays the system owner if they qualify.⁹ So if you make “the grade,” you get paid.

Property and Sales Tax Exemptions for Solar Installation

Under this incentive option, not only property tax is exempted, but so is sales tax. For 2023, sales and use tax is not applied to any sort of “renewable energy” equipment, and that includes solar.

That means you could save $6.25 for every $100 spent, or $937.50 for a $15k purchase. There is no increase in property value taxes owing to expanded value from solar energy installation.

Basically, solar energy won’t be added to the property tax assessment, as it’s exempt.

Moreover, some buyers are willing to pay up to $15k more for a home with solar energy (which is about the cost of a solar system, depending on it’s age).⁵

So on many online realtor locations, you can ask for a higher price from buyers, and be more likely to get it, without being obligated by law to pay a higher tax for that increased value.

The larger your property, the greater the potential savings here. This exemption is available for 20 years.¹⁰

Additional Massachusetts Renewable Energy Incentives

In addition to solar incentives, Massachusetts offers a number of clean energy rebates and credits, provided by both local governments and state wide utility providers.

Massachusetts Solar Incentive	Rebate Amount	Conditions	Contact
CMLP Solar PV Rebate	$625 per kW (DC), capped at $3,125	Offsets a part of or the entire annual electricity needs of the customer Within the customer’s property and CMLP service area Customer-owned or under a lease agreement approved by CMLP legal counsel	Pamela Cady Concord Municipal Light Plant [email protected]
TMLP Solar Rebate Program (PV system and battery storage)	PV system: $1.50 per watt, capped at $4,500	PV system is customer-owned (not leased) and situated within a single family dwelling Must have an approved net metering application Project size: 1 kW to 3 kW TMLP customer for at least 6 months without arrears Installed by licensed professionals *The Solar Rebate Application form must be submitted along with copies of paid invoices.	Mail the required forms and documents to: TMLP Solar Rebate Program, PO Box 870, Taunton, MA 02780-870
	Battery Storage: $300	PV system is customer-owned (not leased) and situated within a single family dwelling Must have an approved net metering application Storage size: At least 5 kW TMLP customer for at least 6 months without arrears Installed by licensed professionals *Accomplished Battery Backup Verification, Inspection and Rebate Application form with Copy of city or town’s inspector approval for the battery system Diagram of the battery backup Technical data sheet of the battery Copies of paid invoice
RMLD Residential and Small Commercial Solar Rebate Program	$1,200 per kilowatt, capped at ≤ 50% of installation costs excluding taxes	Customer-owned (not leased) PV system capacity: Less than 20 kW UL listed equipment Equipment must have at least 20 years performance warranty Shading: 30% or less Roof segment: Azimuth angle of 80 to 280 degrees Must have an automatic AC disconnect switch and a production meter Must apply and reserve the rebate before installation Installed by licensed electrician Town Electrical Permit RMLD inspection after project completion Must sign-up for a solar data plan (10 years) *100% of RECs produced by the system will be given to RMLD as long as the system works.	Send required documents when applying for interconnection to: [email protected] All other documents should be submitted to the Online Rebate Portal
Hudson Light & Power Photovoltaic (PV) Incentive Program and Additional Renewable Energy Rebates	$1.20 per watt (DC), capped at 50% of the system price or up to $7,500	Various conditions and agreements required for interconnectivity.	Photovoltaic Incentive Program Overview & Request Form HLP Interconnection Application and Certificate of Completion HLP Participants Agreement HLP Meter Requirements Technical Information Distributed Generation Policy
	Small and large appliances, $250-$1750 per customer, per year.	Residential Appliance Rebate Program Application Residential Heating/Cooling Rebate Program Application Heat Pump Rebate $500 EV Smart (Wi-Fi Capable) Level 2 Charger Rebate Application Free Home Energy Audit
Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department (Additional Solar and Renewable Energy Rebates)	Solar Rebate Program: $1.20 per watt from cost of solar system	Directional requirement: installed between 90° and 270° System Owned by Customer in good standing Shade analysis guidelines Engineered (stamped) drawings and spec sheet of the system	Submit all documents to WMGLD at [email protected] For more information and list of additional documents, see the WMGLD website.
	Battery Storage Program: $100/kWh	Connected Homes Program required Application for Battery Storage Enrollment for Connected Homes	email [email protected] or call 1-413-308-1311
SELCO Solar Rebate Program	$0.10 per watt, capped at 25% of cost of solar panel system or up to $1,000	Maximum 20% Shading of the panels Directional requirements: 90° (East) and 270° (West) Meter Fee	Website
Town of Ipswich Electric Light Department Solar PV Rebate Program	$0.30/watt, capped at $3,000	Requirements for solar rebate and interconnection are detailed in the Distributed Generation Net Metering Policy.	Website

The Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

For national solar energy credits, there’s ITC. ITC stands for Investment Tax Credit, and there are multiple varieties available.

In reference to solar energy in MA, ITC refers to an option that started in 2006 and was recently renewed as of 2022 through the “Inflation Reduction Act”.

In a nutshell, ITC provides a 30% tax credit for individuals who are in the process of installing residential solar systems. Commercial and large-scale solar installations are also eligible for tax credits under ITC, though under different percentage breakdowns.¹¹

Does Massachusetts Offer Net Metering and Power Purchasing Agreements (PPA)?

Selling solar power to generate income is net metering. This allows you to be paid if you produce more energy than you can use.²³

This is an additional means of increasing savings through solar. A large enough array can pay for itself in net metering over time.

You may be eligible for a Power Purchase Agreement or PPA.²⁴ Primarily, PPAs are commercial, as there tends to be a higher front-end investment involved.

Many businesses lean into PPAs to enhance operational savings over time.

Depending on the grid-based energy source you use in MA, there are various net metering options.²⁵ Current rates will depend on the company you use.

Essentially, companies offer credits for between 8 and 466 MW (MegaWatts) of additional energy generated; each MA energy producer has a “cap” for a region. So you may or may not be able to fully participate, depending on the cap of a given energy provider in your region, or available providers.

Requirements for Obtaining Solar Credit in Massachusetts

People ask: why are solar panels good for the environment? Grid-based energy seems to say “yes,” but why?

Solar panels provide individualized options putting energy control in a community’s hands more directly, decreasing unwanted waste products, and increasing the precision with which communities manage energy utilities.

Solar recycling and component production will need to be optimized for solar energy to reach its peak environmental friendliness. This is why simply having solar isn’t the only prerequisite for benefits.

Not all solar arrays are the same. Standards must be met to obtain solar credit in MA.

• For the SMART program, you need to be involved with either Eversource, National Grid or Unitil. The SMART program is essentially a net metering solution, though what you make monthly may be dependent on local factors of your community.
• For the residential renewable energy income tax credit of 15%, the said 15% claimed can’t exceed personal income tax liability in the year an array is installed.
• MA automatically exempts property owners from additional taxes related to equity from solar arrays added to a home, so you don’t have to do anything except do a good job during installation to qualify for this.
• To qualify for ITC, the Investment Tax Credit, you just have to properly install a solar energy array that generates electricity for your home. The system needs to be installed in the tax year where you factor in the ITC credit.

Solar panel electricity needs to be reliably generated, and you’ll need to familiarize yourself with terms like “solar units”. Basically, these are “blocks” of solar energy generated by a given system.

So 1kWh is a solar unit describing 1,000 Watts of solar energy. For the sustainability of solar energy to be reliable, a lot of panels tend to be necessary.

This is why for most solar panels renewable energy is more consistent when panels are larger. This also means they tend to be more expensive.

On the “paperwork” side of things, in MA you’re going to need to fill out a “Massachusetts Department of Revenue Schedule EC Solar and Wind Energy Credit” form.²⁶

Step 1: Obtain the Form: Download Schedule EC from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) website or obtain a copy from your tax preparer or tax software if you’re using one.

Step 2: Provide Basic Information: In Part 1 of Schedule EC, you’ll need to provide your personal information, including your name, Social Security Number, and address. Ensure that this information matches what you’ve entered on your Massachusetts state income tax return.

Step 3: Complete Your Tax Return: Finish filling out the rest of your Massachusetts state income tax return, including all other required schedules and forms.

Step 4: File Your Tax Return: File your Massachusetts state income tax return, either electronically or by mailing a paper return to the address provided in the tax instructions.

For federal tax cuts, you’ll need to attach a 5695 “Federal Energy Credits” form to your 1040.²⁷ You can apply for the SMART program online, which consolidates signups for multiple utility companies in one place.²⁸

What Materials and Parts Do You Need for Solar Panel Systems? Daily Sunlight Hours in Massachusetts

To get an idea of what you’ll need for a solar array at your property, it’s best to answer these questions: What does a solar panel do, and what is a solar panel made of?

Solar energy materials and solar cells that constitute them convert solar energy to electricity. Beyond electricity, heat is also produced.

Silicon, or other semiconductors,¹² are used to capture and “translate” solar energy into electricity. Semiconductors release electric charges.

The energy produced by the arrays depends on how much sunlight your location gets.

At a minimum, you’ll need panels, cords that send electricity from those panels, power inverters, surge protectors, and solar battery arrays. You’ll also need equipment to mount panels.

For further context, some websites offer an in-depth explanation of the solar panel components.¹³

With an array installed, how long are solar panels good for? Well, some estimates say you can get 25 to 35 years from a given array,¹⁴ though it’s wiser to assume about 10 years.

There will be some level of maintenance required for best results. Often it isn’t just panels that need to be serviced, but associated inverters or other equipment.¹⁵

Between solar materials and installation, you can get a pretty good idea of what real costs will be in Massachusetts. It’s best to plot out costs in a range.

MA expenses should put the total cost of a 5 kWh (kiloWatt hour) system at between $15,130 and $20,470, depending on property characteristics. To break that down, you’re looking at $3.03 to $4.09 per Watt.

So a 1kWh system would be $3,030 to $4,090. Experts say you may be able to earn your investment back with such a system in MA relatively quickly.

The average for ROI here is 8.32 years.¹⁶

Solar Calculator: How Much Can You Save by Installing Solar?

Tax incentives often cover panels, cells used for attic fans, contractor labor costs, permit expenses, inspection costs, other equipment requirements (including storage batteries), and associated sales tax.¹⁷ You may also want to factor in the disposal of solar panels.

For the most part, you take expired panels to a glass recycler; some may even offer monetary tokens for the effort, depending. Solar recycling as a whole is in its infancy.¹⁸

MA households averaged 500 kWhs a month in 2022.¹⁹ The 2022 Electricity costs per kWh in MA were 20.47 cents.²⁰

That’s $102.35 a month at an average of 500 kWh, or $1,228.20 a year. A 5kWh solar array can produce an average of 600 kWh a month.²¹

That alone would save you $1,228.20 annually. Your property’s value may increase on average $15k+ with a new solar array, so right there you offset expenses through equity and energy savings.

With the renewable energy income tax credit, you can save another 15% on home solar installations up to $1k. That means until you spend $6,600, you cut 15% of expenses directly.

After that, cap savings at $1k. You can also claim a 30% tax credit through ITC.

Since sales tax is extracted for renewables in MA, what would have been $20k with such taxes becomes $18,750 without. State tax credits up to $1k would drop that to $17,750.

Federal tax incentives at 30% mean you can cut taxable income down $6k for a $20k array, so that’s another few hundred you’ll save ($600 to $2,220, depending on your tax bracket).²²

Most property tax in MA is 1% to 2%, depending on location. A home worth $200k with $15k added equity would generally be taxed at $2,150 to $4,300 a year.

That home would save $150 to $300 a year in property taxes with a solar array while enjoying the same equity; so that’s $3k to $6k over 20 years. Add $15k of equity to tax savings and energy savings, and you’re looking at a non-taxable increase of $1,120.70 to $1,201.70 a year in a span of over 20 years.

For a $200k MA home, if you were able to install a solar panel array at $15k, after incentives and other savings, you’d be looking at a cost of:

• $11,371.16 in the first year
• $7,224.47 at the end of 20 years with equity savings factored in

If you installed the system for $20k, you’d be looking at:

• $16,781.54 after initial savings
• $10,781.54 after 20 years with equity

Expect installation expenses on a $15k to $20k system will be reduced to between $11,371.16 and $16,781.54 after applying incentives in the first year. This is assuming you work with professional solar installation experts and acquire top-of-the-line equipment.

That’s a savings of 16.09 to 24.19 percent.

For energy savings, if you spent $1,228.20 a year, you could potentially save that much annually without changing anything else. If you were able to install the panels cheaply, with incentives, your system will pay for itself in 9.25 to 13.66 years, depending on how you install it.

Going the DIY route provides even more savings, as you can mount an array for between $5k and $10k, depending on the equipment you secure. A $5k solar array could pay for itself in four years while expanding equity.

The most profitable move would be to install solar going the DIY route, save with it for several years, and then sell the property with increased equity to maximize potential earnings. However, these numbers are idealized.

Expect 16 to 24 percent in direct savings from incentives and credits, and up to 100 percent or more in savings owing to deferred utility bills and added equity. Properly managed, a solar energy array is an investment that can provide a return.

Using Photovoltaic Cells in Massachusetts for the Solar Grid

Photovoltaic solar cells (or PV cells)²⁹ make up solar panels. These are often called solar cells.

PV stands for “photovoltaic”. The term refers to non-mechanical tech which converts sunlight to electricity.

Some PVs can even turn “artificial” light into electricity.

Price isn’t always an indicator of quality. When you’re choosing PV cells, you want to look at more than how much they cost.

It’s germane to read associated product reviews and look at what secondary equipment will cost as well. These things can be complex and time-consuming, a lot of homeowners and businesses elect to purchase panels from professionals and work with them to mount the tech properly.

Massachusetts also sells solar panels. Quality panels installed correctly forestall the majority of solar energy problems.

You shouldn’t just mount panels facing straight up. They need to be at a particular angle in reference to the sun for the greatest amount of energy production.³⁰

Installing panels with solar tracking systems will allow them to follow the sun, increasing the amount of energy captured,³¹ and reducing overall expenses.

However, some mounting systems are more expensive than the value they provide, so you’ll want to work with installers who can provide the information you need about questions like these, and alternatives to explore.

Current Massachusetts Renewable Energy Consumption

Currently, Massachusetts utilizes wind, biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric and solar renewable energy alternatives.

By increasing the number of home solar energy systems, the state can reduce it’s fossil fuel dependence and you can save money.

How Much Electricity Will Solar Provide?

A 5kWh system should produce as much as 20kWh a day,³² or an average of 600kWh a month. Cheaper panels won’t produce as much, and they’ll wear out more quickly.

The cleaner the surface of panels, the better; you’ll want to incorporate cleaning panel surfaces into regular maintenance for best results. Detritus, bird droppings, and more inhibit solar energy collection.

Better panels are less likely to collect dust etc., making them more productive longer.

You can pick up two cheap 500W panels for $320 online, so ten of those would make a 5kWh system and cost about $3,200 prior to installation. Expect another $2k+ in cables, surge protectors, power inverters, cable extensions, battery arrays, shipping costs, and the unexpected.

So if you went totally DIY, you could pick something up for a low cost of $5,200, and install it on your own.

However, such a system will likely malfunction, and you’ll need to sub out panels. It’s better to spend more on the front end and less on the back end.

Ask multiple solar energy installers, and have them go over the numbers with you carefully. A few hours on the phone can save thousands of dollars over the long term, even putting money in your pocket collaterally through cost deferral.

Maybe free solar panels are rare, but if you take full advantage of all credits, metering, and energy savings, panels will quickly pay for themselves and then some. So can you get solar panels for free?

Yes and no. They are not free immediately, but in time, they pay for themselves.

Solar energy is still developing.³ If you put time and effort into establishing a solar energy array on your property, there’s a high chance you’ll see profit without having to change your lifestyle all that much.

Thanks to the lowering cost of solar panels, net metering programs, tax credits and other Massachusetts solar incentives, getting a solar array installed at your home can deliver long term energy solutions and savings.

Frequently Asked Questions About Massachusetts Solar Incentives