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If you’ve been thinking about reducing your carbon footprint to help the planet, now is a great time to harness the power of the sun and switch to renewable energy. A Massachusetts swap comes with several benefits, including exemptions from solar property taxes, state tax credits and lower electric bills. Despite inclement weather affecting homes in the fall, winter and spring, high electricity prices and attractive solar energy policies have made solar panels popular in the Bay State.
Massachusetts is in the top 10 countries with the highest electricity prices29.42 cents per kilowatt-hour on average in August 2024, according to data from US Energy Information Administration. The average national electricity bill it was $165.55 per month in 2023. Going solar could help you save money on your electric bill, protect you from utility rate changes, and reduce your home’s carbon footprint.
Although still quite a large investment, a solar installation is more affordable to the average American than a decade ago, thanks in large part to federal and local incentives that help homeowners switch to clean energy. The largest federal incentive is a large tax credit who was involved in Inflation Reduction Law. At the local level, Massachusetts offers residents its own state tax credit and property tax exemption on solar panel systems.
If you’re looking to take the first steps towards installing solar panels, here are some of our picks for best solar energy companies that service Massachusetts.
Top National Solar Panel Companies in Massachusetts
Palmetto Solar
Best overall
Solar panels are usually low maintenance equipment, but they are also unknown. If you want to take advantage of the benefits of solar power, but have a little more peace of mind having someone else make sure it works, Palmetto might be right for you. Just remember to add the cost of Palmetto’s tracking service to your payback calculations.
Freedom Forever
Best for cash buyers
Include Freedom Forever in your search if you want the support of a national company that installs a wide variety of the most popular solar equipment available. Freedom Forever also extends several products that take some of the pain and risk out of solar, such as a production guarantee and an escrow option with cash purchases. Online reviews say customer satisfaction has been low lately, though the company says that’s changing.
Tesla Solar
The most affordable
Tesla’s solar branch seems to be the least loved of Elon Musk’s ventures. Even Tesla’s solar roof seems to be getting more love.
If price is something you won’t budge on, consider a Tesla. By all accounts, Tesla installs quality panels and makes the closest thing to a household name in solar storage: the Powerwall.
What you might miss is customer service. Discussion online seems to suggest that Tesla’s service is a bit of a gamble.
Momentum Solar
All installers in house
Momentum is installed in 11 countries without the use of subcontractors. While using the internal installers doesn’t guarantee a better experience, it does suggest that you’ll likely get a more consistent experience than Momentum. The fact that Momentum backs its installations with a 25-year workmanship warranty indicates a strong belief in the ability of its team. If Momentum is part of your search, consider leak warranties offered by other companies. The momentum is five years, which is not the best.
EnergiPal
The most versatile
EnergiPal is more than an intermediary. He will handle your solar installation from start to finish while allowing you to take advantage of his proprietary engine and competitive bidding process. The company offers a range of panel, battery and inverter hardware, has a number of financing options and offers customer service support.
Local solar panel companies in Massachusetts
While searching for solar companies, you should also consider local solar companies in your area. We’ve rounded up a few Massachusetts solar companies with some of the highest average Google review scores. It’s important to do some research on local solar companies yourself or get referrals from people you know. Here are a few local solar companies in Massachusetts that may be worth checking out.
Boston Solar is a solar company based in Woburn, Massachusetts. Since 2011, the company has installed more than 30 megawatts of residential solar in the Bay State. Boston Solar handles everything solar installation process internally and offers a 10-year warranty on quality of work and a 25-year warranty on products. Solar financing is available through the company’s partnership with Sungage Financial.
Great Sky Solar is an employee-owned solar cooperative based in the greater Boston area. The company handles the entire customer lifecycle, including design, permitting, installation, interconnection and maintenance, and offers customers solar financing and leasing options. Although the company provides a guarantee for the quality of work, it does not mention its length or guarantees for performance and products.
How do I determine which solar company in Massachusetts is best for me?
You’ll want to find an installer who has experience working with the type of solar project you’re interested in. You’ll also want to make sure your installer has experience working with the type of roof you have, and the type of system you want to install, such as grid or off-grid.
Ben Delmandirector of communications at Solar United Neighbors, a clean energy nonprofit, recommends that homeowners look for solar installers that are certified by North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. They should also have the appropriate licensing and affiliation for their work. Reading online reviews can help you better understand a solar company’s installation and service reputation. A few places to look for solar company reviews are Google, Yelp, and Angie’s. Delman recommends looking for solar companies that have at least 20 to 30 reviews. Ask people you know if they also have solar company recommendations.
Aside from reviews and certifications, there are a few other things to look for in a solar installer. A good installer, Delman said, will be able to:
- Provide good word of mouth references
- Clearly explain all project deadlines
- Easily define technical terms in an easy-to-understand way
- Show transparency around pricing and how systemic funding works
- Knowledge of local permit requirements and process for system interconnection with local power company
- Understand the limitations of the homeowners association and help you navigate the process
A reputable solar company should be able to answer all of your questions, no matter how difficult the questions are. Do not hesitate to ask for clarification on any project and pricing details. To get the best possible price, be sure to get at least three quotes before choosing an installer.
Cost of solar panels in Massachusetts
There are a number of important variables that can contribute to the cost of installing a solar panel system. The size of your roof and the system you need to install to adequately power all your devices will determine how many solar panels you can install.
If your roof is in poor condition, you may need to repair it before installing a solar panel system, which can also be expensive. If you want to install a solar battery in addition to your solar panel system, it will also increase the installation cost by a fair amount.
Here’s a look at the average cash price for a 5-kilowatt system in Massachusetts before tax credits are factored in, according to data from FindEnergi.com.
Average cost of solar panels in Massachusetts
| Typical System Size (kV) | Price per watt | Total installation costs | Price after 30% federal tax credit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 5 | $4.02 | $20,108 | $14,076 |
| National average | 5 | $3.56 | $17,823 | $12,476 |
The following infographic provides the average total cost, cost per watt and system size for solar panel systems in the United States, according to data from FindEnergi.com. Prices shown do not include changes due to tax credits or government incentives for solar energy. If FindEnergi does not have solar data for a particular state, it appears gray on the map.
Incentives or rebates for solar panels in Massachusetts
Solar isn’t cheap for New Englanders. Fortunately, you can lower the price with the help of federal tax credits and state incentives.
The Federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (formerly called the Investment Tax Credit) lets you subtract 30% from the cost of the solar system from your federal tax returns after you purchase a solar system. That means you’ll pay $6,032 less for the average solar system installed in Massachusetts after using the federal credit. Most batteries will also qualify for the federal Clean Energy Credit.
The Inflation Reduction Act is a landmark federal climate bill passed in August 2022. Thanks to the IRA, Americans can invest in residential solar and reduce its cost with a federal tax credit through 2032. The credit will decrease to 26% in 2033. and the 22nd. % in 2034. It is set to expire in 2035. To receive the Clean Energy Credit, you can fill out form 5695 (PDF) and submit it to the Tax Administration. The IRS instructions can help you fill out the form. Upon approval by the IRS, you will receive a 30% credit on your federal tax return for the year.
Massachusetts also offers several residential incentive programs to reduce the cost of solar energy. The Database of government incentives for renewable energy sources and efficiency provides a comprehensive list of all incentives in the Bay State. Here are the most noteworthy ones.
| Program | Description |
|---|---|
| State tax credit | Massachusetts provides a 15% solar tax credit with a maximum credit of $1,000 for solar systems purchased. You can claim the tax credit when you file your income tax for that year. You can carry it forward for three consecutive years if you have excess credit. |
| Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target | The SMART program pays customers Eversource, National Grid and Unitil a fixed rate per kilowatt-hour for electricity produced by residential solar panels. The SMART program allows projects under 25 kV of solar capacity to receive the highest basic fee rate between 0.21 cents and 0.31 cents per kWh for 10 years. The program expires in the falling block process. Rates depend on the three participating utilities – Eversource, National Grid and Unitil. |
| State tax exemption | Massachusetts offers property tax and 6.25% sales exemption for residential solar systems. You will not pay tax on added home value from your purchase and installation of solar panels, and you can claim these exemptions in your income tax return. |
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