Solar Panels Cost $2.8k-$14k in Gardner, MA | October, 2024

Hudson residents who install new solar PV systems may be eligible for rebates from Hudson Light and Power. Eligible systems are divided into two "ranges" based on the orientation of the solar panels. A more ideal orientation will yield a higher incentive rate per watt. Currently, rebates top out at $6,000 for residential systems and $12,000 for commercial/industrial systems. To apply, the customer must seek preapproval from HL&P, including submitting cost estimates from their chosen solar contractor. Once preapproved, the customer has a one-year window to install the system and pass a final city inspection. Additional information is available from the Hudson website.

In Massachusetts, corporate excise tax exemptions may be available for wind or solar-powered water heating and HVAC systems. These systems would otherwise be assessed as tangible property. Once a taxpayer claims the exemption, they will not have to renew it for the length of their system's reasonable life, even as the system depreciates in value. Additional information is available from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue website.

A 2007 executive order established green construction and energy efficiency standards for new and existing Massachusetts government buildings. The underlying goal of the order was to cut state buildings' energy use by 35% by 2020 and reduce the government's carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. New state buildings at least 20,000 square feet in size should meet LEED energy efficiency standards and seek certification from both the US Green Building Commission and the Massachusetts Sustainable Design Roundtable. Smaller projects are only required to meet state standards and do not have to be formally LEED certified. Existing buildings should adopt a variety of energy efficient practices and procure ENERGY STAR certified appliances and lighting. Additional information is available from the MA SDR website.

The Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program will act as the successor to the state's solar renewable energy credit initiatives. Currently, per carve-out provisions of the renewable portfolio standard, utilities must accumulate a certain proportion of SRECs each year. Should a utility fail to meet the minimum carve-out quota, it may purchase credits at auction. Should it fail to meet the quota after the auction, it will be assessed an alternate compliance payment of $350 per watt deficient. Solar customers generate SRECs through the use of their system. While they maintain ownership of their SRECs, utilities must offer to purchase the credits through net metering or other tariff compensation contracts. Credit prices are subject to market forces, but the SREC auctions offered to utilities can provide stability. Additional information is available from the SMART website.

Massachusetts has adopted measures to standardize interconnection and distributed generation practices in the state. New renewable energy systems planned to link to the grid are sorted into one of three capacity tiers: Standard, Simplified, and Expedited. The names of these tiers allude to permitting procedures and review times. Customers wishing to interconnect an energy system rated for over 500 W must obtain preapproval from their city or county, a process separate from standard permitting procedures. Utilities may require energy systems to meet IEEE/UL certifications and have external disconnect switches ready to use if necessary. Customers are required to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance for their system. Interested customers should consult with their local government to determine specific standards.

The Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program will act as the successor to the state's solar renewable energy credit initiatives. Currently, per carve-out provisions of the renewable portfolio standard, utilities must accumulate a certain proportion of SRECs each year. Should a utility fail to meet the minimum carve-out quota, it may purchase credits at auction. Should it fail to meet the quota after the auction, it will be assessed an alternate compliance payment of $350 per watt deficient. Solar customers generate SRECs through the use of their system. While they maintain ownership of their SRECs, utilities must offer to purchase the credits through net metering or other tariff compensation contracts. Credit prices are subject to market forces, but the SREC auctions offered to utilities can provide stability. Additional information is available from the SMART website.

In Massachusetts, private utilities must offer net metering contracts to their renewable energy and distributed generation customers. Public or municipal utilities may offer net metering if they so choose. Under a net metering contract, interconnected renewable energy systems up to 10 MW in capacity will have a bidirectional meter installed to measure net excess generation (NEG) sent back to the grid. The utility will compensate the customer for both NEG and related renewable energy credits at a fixed avoided-cost rate. "Virtual" net metering arrangements are available for microgrid customers. NEG credits from the system's total generation will be proportionally allocated to each customer. Additional information is available from the customer's utility.

HELPS (Home Energy Loss Prevention Services) is a program managed by the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company. The program acts as an incentive program authority and "loss cushion" for eighteen municipal utilities that offer rebates on energy efficient equipment. By preventing financial losses from rebate disbursements, the utilities can safely and easily continue their own incentive offerings. HELPS representatives may also participate in energy audits to determine eligible projects for incentives. Additional information is available from the MuniHELPS website.

The Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program will act as the successor to the state's solar renewable energy credit initiatives. Currently, per carve-out provisions of the renewable portfolio standard, utilities must accumulate a certain proportion of SRECs each year. Should a utility fail to meet the minimum carve-out quota, it may purchase credits at auction. Should it fail to meet the quota after the auction, it will be assessed an alternate compliance payment of $350 per watt deficient. Solar customers generate SRECs through the use of their system. While they maintain ownership of their SRECs, utilities must offer to purchase the credits through net metering or other tariff compensation contracts. Credit prices are subject to market forces, but the SREC auctions offered to utilities can provide stability. Additional information is available from the SMART website.

The Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program will act as the successor to the state's solar renewable energy credit initiatives. Currently, per carve-out provisions of the renewable portfolio standard, utilities must accumulate a certain proportion of SRECs each year. Should a utility fail to meet the minimum carve-out quota, it may purchase credits at auction. Should it fail to meet the quota after the auction, it will be assessed an alternate compliance payment of $350 per watt deficient. Solar customers generate SRECs through the use of their system. While they maintain ownership of their SRECs, utilities must offer to purchase the credits through net metering or other tariff compensation contracts. Credit prices are subject to market forces, but the SREC auctions offered to utilities can provide stability. Additional information is available from the SMART website.

In Massachusetts, new residential solar, wind, or geothermal energy devices which are directly involved in the production of power or heat are typically exempt from state sales tax. If a taxpayer owns multiple properties, only equipment at their primary place of residence will qualify for the exemption. Bay Staters wishing to file an exemption claim should submit form ST-12 (available from the MA Department of Revenue website) to their salesperson. The exemption can then be immediately applied to the purchase price.

In Massachusetts, corporate excise tax deductions may be available for wind or solar-powered water heating and HVAC systems. Deductions can cover the purchase price, installation costs, or operating costs incurred by purchasing and using the system. The only condition for a deduction to be granted is that the system must be used exclusively for business purposes. Once the credit is applied, the system will not qualify for any other tax incentives. Additional information is available from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue website.

Massachusetts communities are encouraged to enact "as of right" ordinances for owners of solar PV systems. Essentially, these ordinances would secure residents' and businesses' ability to install ground-mounted solar panels rated for larger capacities. A model ordinance is available from the state website which details suggested permit processes, fee schedules, setback requirements, interconnection guidelines, design requirements, and processes for special circumstances (for example, decommissioning of the panels.) The ordinance should also list conditions in which variances or exemptions might be warranted. Additional information is available from the Massachusetts Office of Environmental Affairs website.

Residential customers of the Reading Municipal Light Department may be eligible for rebates and local incentives on new solar photovoltaic systems. Incentive amount depends on the capacity of the system; the current rate is $1 per watt up to $2,000. RMLD effectively matches and exceeds state rebates of 60 cents/watt, allowing for a maximum rebate of $6,500. The program is funded annually with applications approved on a rolling, first-come/first-served basis. RMLD must pre-approve any rebate project, so interested homeowners should prepare and submit the application paperwork prior to purchasing their system. Additional information is available from the RMLD website.

The Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program will act as the successor to the state's solar renewable energy credit initiatives. Currently, per carve-out provisions of the renewable portfolio standard, utilities must accumulate a certain proportion of SRECs each year. Should a utility fail to meet the minimum carve-out quota, it may purchase credits at auction. Should it fail to meet the quota after the auction, it will be assessed an alternate compliance payment of $350 per watt deficient. Solar customers generate SRECs through the use of their system. While they maintain ownership of their SRECs, utilities must offer to purchase the credits through net metering or other tariff compensation contracts. Credit prices are subject to market forces, but the SREC auctions offered to utilities can provide stability. Additional information is available from the SMART website.

Massachusetts has both a mandatory Renewable Portfolio Standard and a mandatory Clean Energy Standard. Public, municipal, and private utilities in the commonwealth are obliged to obtain a certain percentage of their energy from renewable sources. Quotas increase each year until 2029. The RPS covers new investments in solar, wind, geothermal, or other renewable energy farms. The CES covers existing energy facilities; "existing" is defined as those operating before the RPS was established. Certain "carve-out" provisions require utilities to utilize solar energy for at least a portion of their RPS compliance. Official documentation on each standard is available from the Massachusetts government website.

At the same time Massachusetts established its Renewable Portfolio Standard, it also opened a public benefits fund to support public and private clean energy adoption. The Renewable Energy Trust Fund directly supports grants, financing, and customer rebates for solar, wind, biomass, hydroelectric, landfill/waste reclamation, and geothermal energy systems. The fund is supported by per-kilowatt hour surcharges on all customers of a private utility. Cooperatives or public utilities may collect surcharges voluntarily. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, which oversees the fund, submits annual reports on spending and compliance. These reports are available from the state website.

Solar, wind, and certain hydroelectric power and thermal systems in Massachusetts may be entitled to property tax exemptions. Exemptions last for 20 years and only apply to the value the system adds to the property. Systems that have additional purposes beyond the generation of energy (for example, maintaining structural integrity) do not qualify for an exemption; however, structural components of the system such as ducts or fans do qualify. Should the system be located in an Economic Opportunity Zone or Economic Target Area, tax incentives may be issued as a refund rather than an exemption. Property owners wishing to claim an exemption should contact their local assessor, as tax codes vary from county to county.

The Mass Save HEAT program provides special financing to residential property owners to fund energy efficiency improvement projects. Currently, customers with National Grid, Eversource, the Cape Light Compact, Unitil, Columbia Gas, and Liberty Utilities qualify. Eligible projects for a Mass Save loan include central HVAC, heat pumps, windows, boilers, insulation/weatherization, and solar water heaters. The maximum available principal depends on the customer's utility, but will typically amount to $25,000. The loans can be repaid over up to seven years at 0% interest. Different terms and conditions may apply to low-income applicants. To apply, the customer should schedule an energy audit with their utility. Additional information is available from the Mass Save website.

Massachusetts first set a renewable portfolio standard in 2002 after establishing the framework in 1997. RPS regulations and compliance are handled by the Department of Energy Resources (DOER). Currently, at least 16% of retail energy generated in Massachusetts should be sourced from renewable means. Solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, landfill gas reclamation, and fuel cells qualify. "Carve out" regulations require the state's utilities to fulfill at least 1,600 MW of the standard using solar photovoltaics specifically. Compliance is measured through a renewable energy credit (REC) system pegging a certain wattage to a fixed dollar value. Solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) measure compliance with the solar carve-out regulations. Customers technically own the RECs and/or SRECs they generate, but utilities are required to purchase them through net metering contracts to fulfill their portion of the standard. Additional information is available through the DOER website.

NOTE: This program is no longer accepting applications as of winter 2017. Massachusetts legislators enacted the Green Communities Act of 2008 to support municipalities transitioning to clean energy or making energy efficiency improvements. The Green Communities program offered the full breadth of advisory services to community managers, including technical support for existing energy systems. Communities could also receive grants and other financial incentives to support new equipment and improvements. Interested jurisdictions were required to pursue Green Community certification, which involved creating energy savings goals, streamlining permit procedures, and establishing green building standards.