Solar Electricity

Use the power of the sun to generate electricity and reduce or eliminate your electricity bills.

Benefits of solar electricity

Solar electric systems can help reduce your electricity costs while powering your home with clean electricity.

Lower greenhouse gas emissions

Protect the climate by generating your own clean electricity

Save on electricity bills

Save hundreds to thousands of dollars a year by generating your home’s electricity

Energy price stability

Electricity generated by your system has a stable cost over time and is not subject to rising fuel costs or fluctuations in utility rates

Ongoing revenue

Depending on your utility, additional upfront incentives or ongoing credits can provide additional revenue

The Technology

How It Works

Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity to power your home.

Solar_electric-systems--Diagram_Web_2000x1080

Solar electricity is ideal for:

Homes with available roof or ground space | Good sun exposure

Learn More

Video

How Solar Panels Work

EnergySage | 1 min

Solar panels are made of silicon. When sunlight hits a solar panel, electrons in the silicon begin to move, initiating a flow of electricity.

Incentives and Financing

Mass Department
of Energy
Resources (DOER)

Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART): SMART is the primary incentive program for solar electric projects at properties serviced by National Grid, Eversource and Unitil.

Municipal Light Plant

If you live in a town served by a Municipal Light Plant (MLP) check your MLP’s website for incentives and rebates.

Mass State Tax Credits

Most residential solar electric systems qualify for a state personal income tax credit for 15% of the total cost of the solar electric system, with a maximum of $1,000.

Federal Tax Credits

Most residential solar electric systems qualify for the Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit of 30% of total system costs.

Example Cost for a 2,000 FT² Home

Cost after incentives is estimated by subtracting Mass State Tax Credit and Federal Tax Credit from up-front cost.
Cost after incentives may be substantially lower if your household qualifies for income-scaled State and Federal rebates.

Example up-front cost before incentives

$25,000

Example cost after
incentives

$17,000

Learn more about incentives and explore financing options

Learn More

Things to Consider

If you answer yes to ANY of these questions, then solar electricity is a good fit for your home

Do you want to save (or even make money) on your electric bill?

By generating your own electricity, you can drastically reduce or eliminate your electric bill. In months when your solar panels produce more electricity than you use, you can even receive a credit from your utility!

Do you have available roof or yard space with good sun exposure?

Solar electricity requires good sun exposure for at least 6 hours a day and plenty of roof or yard space for panels.

Do you want to reduce your home’s greenhouse gas emissions?

By installing solar panels, you can ensure that your home is utilizing locally produced clean energy.

Is solar electricity feasible for a condo building?

Many of the same conditions that make a single-family home a good candidate for solar apply to multi-family buildings. Condo owners will likely need to get approval from their condo association before installing a system.

How can I generate revenue from solar electricity?

Depending on your utility, additional upfront incentives based on the size of your system or ongoing credits based on the amount of clean energy generated by your system can provide additional revenue.