Interested in Solar?

Solar is an excellent way to generate your own renewable power and realize savings on your electricity bill.

Multiple incentive programs make solar a competitive, cost-effective energy solution for most.

How to Get Solar

Most folks use one of two ways to get solar: purchasing and owning a system outright or installing a system with little to no money down and paying for energy through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Explore drop the drop downs to learn about these options.

  • You work with a solar contractor to develop a proposal and scope of work for your solar project. You agree on a price and pay for the equipment and installation. You own the system and receive all the incentives.

    • Payback time usually 7-10 years, produce power for free thereafter.

    • Add value to your home.

  • Solar contractor provides you with a proposal to install solar on your roof. You agree to purchase power from the array on your roof through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Contractor receives incentives and reflects them in a PPA rate that often delivers 10 – 20% savings on the cost of electricity.

    • Little to no money down.

    • Contractor owns system.

    • Option to purchase system after a time specified in the PPA.

IncentiveS

  • The federal government reinstated the 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for solar projects through the Inflation Reduction Act. That is, those who install solar will receive a tax write off equivalent to 30% of the solar project value.

  • The Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program is Massachusetts’ solar incentive program. The program generates a SMART rate ($/kWh) based on your solar system configuration and the state pays you your SMART rate for every kWh of electricity you produce. Use this worksheet to estimate your SMART rate.

Thinking About Battery Storage?

Battery storage, when paired with solar systems, offers a viable renewable energy solution for your resilience needs. Properly configured batteries can provide reliable back-up power generated by your solar system for the duration of most power outages.

Batteries qualify for an independent 30% Federal ITC under the Inflation Reduction Act.

Pairing a battery with your solar system will boost your SMART rate. Use this worksheet to calculate your energy storage adder.

Batteries must be enrolled in a demand response program to qualify for the SMART energy storage adder. Demand response programs allow utility companies to draw on your battery during peak electricity use hours to lower peak electricity demand on the grid. Click to learn more about ConnectedSolutions, the demand response program offered by Cape Light Compact.