General Questions
What is Clean Energy Lives Here? What’s the difference between Clean Energy Lives Here, MassCEC and Mass Save®?
Clean Energy Lives Here is a public awareness campaign run by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). The campaign provides information on the optimal clean energy home, including weatherization, heating and cooling, electricity, vehicles, and appliances. Throughout the campaign, MassCEC is providing educational resources for homeowners to learn about different technologies, determine which solutions would be a good fit for their home, and determine when these changes could be implemented.
MassCEC is a state agency dedicated to accelerating the growth of the clean energy sector to meet the Commonwealth’s clean energy, climate, and economic development goals.
Mass Save® is a collaborative of Massachusetts’ electric and natural gas utilities and energy efficiency service providers including Berkshire Gas, Cape Light Compact, Eversource, Liberty National Grid, and Unitil. They help residents, businesses, and communities to make energy efficient upgrades by offering a wide range of services, rebates, incentives, trainings, and information. Mass Save® has no formal connection to MassCEC or Clean Energy Lives Here.
How do I get started with the transition to clean energy?
Clean Energy Lives Here helps take the mystery out of home technologies that are unfamiliar to you and gives you the facts so you can have an informed conversation with contractors and service providers about your home system and appliance choices. You can start with Clean Energy Solutions for Your Home to explore various home technologies.
Do you offer energy assessments/audits?
MassCEC does not offer home energy assessments. The following organizations provide free home energy assessments:
Most MA residents will be able to schedule a home energy assessment through Mass Save®. Mass Save is a coalition of electric and natural gas utilities (Berkshire Gas, Cape Light Compact, Eversource, Liberty Utilities, National Grid and Unitil) that work together to improve energy efficiency for their customers:
Many municipal utilities in Massachusetts, also called municipal light plants, offer home energy assessments. The providers are:
If you are served by a municipal utility that is not part of the NextZero or ENE programs, contact your MLP to inquire about home energy assessments.
How do I find a contractor?
Visit our Find a Contractor page to find a clean energy installer that serves your area. Please note that MassCEC always recommends seeking quotes from multiple contractors to help you best consider available options and pricing for your system.
When will the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) rebates and tax credits become available to Massachusetts residents?
Federal IRA tax credits are available now. You can find aggregated information on state and federal incentives that are currently available on our Benefits and Savings page.
Details about Federal IRA Rebates have not been announced yet. Additional guidance is expected through the Department of Energy (DOE) and various state energy departments. See this FAQ from Mass Save® to stay updated on when the IRA rebates will be available.
For further guidance, you can also view the Department of Energy’s Energy Savings Hub and Rewiring America’s IRA Savings Calculator.
How do I know if my system or appliance is eligible for tax credits, and if so, how much will I be eligible to receive?
You can find general information on state incentives and tax credits on our Benefits and Savings page. For custom guidance, we recommend reaching out to a tax advisor.
Solar
What can solar ownership look like? How can I decide what is right for me?
Some residents choose to buy and own their solar system. Others choose to pursue third party ownership models, like a solar lease or Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). To learn more about each ownership option’s costs and benefits, review the Ownership and Financing Options table and Clean Energy States Alliance’s (CESA’s) Homeowner’s Guide to Solar Financing. The Office of the Attorney General also has a table to help you consider which solar option is best for you. We also recommend contacting an installer to help you consider the applicable incentives, and which may be most appropriate for your situation.
If you are a renter or your home is not suitable for a solar installation, you may be interested in exploring Community Solar as an option.
What are low-cost solar financing options?
There are several financing options available such as Solar Loans, Leases, and Power Purchase Agreements. Please refer to our Incentives, Ownerships Options and Financing page and CESA’s Homeowner’s Guide to Solar Financing for general information. Once you select a solar installer, they may also be able to connect you with financing partners they work with.
Does MassCEC offer loans or rebates? Are there any low interest loans available?
MassCEC does not offer solar loans or solar rebates. However, various local lenders across the state offer solar loans at market rate – you may want to connect with your personal bank or credit union to see if they offer solar loans or have a different financing product that could work to support a solar project.
The Massachusetts Community Climate Bank offers the Energy Saver Home Loan program for low-and moderate-income MA residents. The program underwrites low-to no-interest loans for a variety of energy-related home improvements, which may include rooftop solar PV installation. However, the solar installation would need to be part of a set of improvements that reduce your home’s total energy usage by at least 20%. If you are income-eligible, a Concierge Service Provider will help you determine if your project is eligible for financing.
Additionally, the Mass Save HEAT Loan provides 0% interest financing for energy-efficiency home upgrades. This does not include solar PV systems but does include battery storage for solar.
What are the main solar incentives in Massachusetts?
To explore the primary solar incentive and financing programs in Massachusetts, visit the Incentives, Ownerships Options and Financing page. Incentives include the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program, state tax credits, and federal tax credits for a limited time.
Towns served by Municipal Light Plants may have other incentives and rebates. Not sure if your community has a Municipal Light Plant (MLP)? Visit this list of towns and cities served by MLPs, and if your community is on the list, search your MLP’s website for solar incentives.
What is SMART, and how can I participate?
SMART, or the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Energy Target, is an earn-as-you-produce incentive program. If eligible, you can receive incentive payments for the solar electricity produced by your panels for 20 years after installation, with the payments coming directly from your investor-owned utility (National Grid, Eversource, or Unitil). In other words, the program compensates system owners for the solar electricity produced by their panels. SMART 3.0 launched in October 2025 with a new program structure designed to address declining incentive rates and increase consumer protections.
SMART was initially launched in 2018 by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) in conjunction with investor-owned utilities. The selected Solar Program Administrator, CLEAResult, accepts and processes applications. Your solar installer will apply to the SMART program on your behalf and should help you navigate obtaining incentives through the program. Please see the DOER SMART website and the program administrator’s SMART website for more information.
Residents of towns with a Municipal Light Plant (MLP) are unable to participate in SMART. If you live in a town or city with an MLP, check your utility’s website to see if they offer a separate incentive. Not sure if your community is served by a Municipal Light Plant? Visit this list of towns and cities served by MLPs.
Are there specific solar incentive programs for low-income residents?
The primary solar incentive program in the state is the SMART (Solar Massachusetts Renewable Energy Target) Program, which is an earn-as-you-produce incentive program. If eligible, you can receive incentive payments for the solar electricity produced by your panels for 20 years after installation. SMART has additional incentives available for a range of categories, including projects that will benefit low-income households.
If you are interested in SMART, you can visit the program website, or visit the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) page on program updates. Your solar installer will apply to the SMART program on your behalf and should help you navigate obtaining incentives through the program. If you have particular questions, you can reach out to the program administrators at MA.SMART@clearesult.com or doer.smart@mass.gov.
The Massachusetts Community Climate Bank offers the Energy Saver Home Loan program for low-and moderate-income MA residents. The program underwrites low-to no-interest loans for a variety of energy-related home improvements, which may include rooftop solar PV installation. However, the solar installation would need to be part of a set of improvements that reduce your home’s total energy usage by at least 20%. If you are income-eligible, a Concierge Service Provider will help you determine if your project is eligible for financing.
How do I find a solar installer, and how can I compare installation costs?
You can find installer listings on our Installer Page, which allows you to search by zip code, or view a list of installers that have recently installed systems in Massachusetts through our Solar Cost Comparison Tool, which can be sorted by installer. EnergySage also has a marketplace to help you receive and compare quotes from multiple installers.
You may also find our tips for finding and selecting a solar installer and Checklist and Installer Questions articles helpful. MassCEC always recommends seeking quotes from multiple installers to help you best consider available options and pricing for your system.
Should I replace my roof before installing solar panels?
Generally, any necessary roof repairs should be made before a solar electric system is installed. Although the panels may act as a shield for sun or rain directly hitting the roof, potentially prolonging the roof life, some installers recommend replacement if the roof has a remaining lifetime of eight years or less. We would recommend discussing this with your installer, who can help assess your roof’s condition.
How do I find a community solar project to sign up for?
Community solar enables households that can’t put panels on their homes to still use solar energy, while avoiding the upfront costs associated with a home installation. When you subscribe to community solar, you can partially power your home with low-cost clean energy and receive net metering credits or offsets towards your electric bill. To explore community solar projects, review this article on how to find a community solar project in Massachusetts. You may find EnergySage’s Community Solar Marketplace helpful.
My Community-Based Organization (CBO) / nonprofit / municipality is interested in solar. Are there any resources that could help?
MassCEC’s EmPower Massachusetts Program offers multiple stages of investment in communities and community-based organizations so that they can explore, develop, and implement program models or projects that provide access to the benefits of clean energy for previously underserved populations. You can learn more about the program here.
The Low-Income Services Solar Program, administered by the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and the Center for EcoTechnology (CET), provides grants for nonprofit organizations that serve low-income residents and Environmental Justice (EJ) communities. Nonprofits can use the grants to install solar energy systems and optional battery storage. Visit the program’s webpage to learn more about eligibility and how to apply.
If your municipality is interested in solar, you may find the Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s Municipal Solar + Storage Resource Guide helpful. You can also explore opportunities offered by the Green Communities Division, which provides grants, technical assistance, and local support from Regional Coordinators to help municipalities reduce energy use and costs by implementing clean energy projects in municipal buildings, facilities, and schools.
MassCEC also recommends reviewing our Solar Electricity Page. This page provides general information about solar electricity, including a variety of articles at the bottom of the page about how solar works, financing and ownership options, tips and resources on finding an installer, and more. While this information is targeted more towards residential customers, we hope some of it can still be helpful for your CBO or nonprofit. You can also visit MassCEC’s Commercial Solar Information Hub.
I am interested in solar for my company / commercial property. Are there any resources that could help?
For more information and resources on commercial solar, visit MassCEC’s Commercial Solar Information Hub. This site includes information on incentives, financing options, procurement guidance, and more.
Who should I reach out to if I have more questions about solar?
First, make sure you have explored our collection of solar articles. These resources might include answers to some of your questions!
If you have more solar-related inquiries, feel free to contact solar@masscec.com.
Heat Pumps
I’m not eligible for Mass Save® programs. Who should I contact for rebates and incentives? Can I still use Mass Save®’s Heat Pump Installer Network?
If you live in a town served by a Municipal Light Plant (MLP), please check your MLP’s website for incentives and rebates and reach out to them directly with any questions. You may refer to this list of towns and cities served by MLPs.
If you are looking for an installer for an Air-Source Heat Pump, we would recommend Mass Save’s Heat Pump Installer Network. Even if you aren’t eligible for Mass Save incentives, installers on their list likely do work outside of Mass Save’s territory.
How can I get an Air-to-Water Heat Pump?
You can find general information in our Air-to-Water Heat Pumps article. Unfortunately, this technology is currently not widely available in the United States. There is at least one Massachusetts based company that is building Air-to-Water heat pumps for residential applications. We suggest visiting their website and contacting them directly to see if they have an installer available in your area.
How do Air-Source Heat Pumps work in a cold climate, like Massachusetts’, in the winter?
In Massachusetts’ climate, cold climate air-source heat pumps are able to heat homes down to -5Fo. They can be the sole source of heating in a Massachusetts home. You can learn more in our “Why ASHPs Are Great for Massachusetts Homes” and “How Air-Source Heat Pumps Work” articles as well as find general information on our Air-Source Heat Pumps page.
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