Commonwealth Solar, a program launched in January 2008 by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC), provides rebates for the installation of grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) systems at residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and public facilities.* Commonwealth Solar rebates are available to electricity customers served by the following Massachusetts investor-owned electric utilities: Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light (Unitil), National Grid, NSTAR Electric and Western Massachusetts Electric. Non-residential projects are eligible for rebates for PV projects up to 500 kilowatts (kW) in capacity, and residential projects are eligible for incentives for systems up to 5 kW. Larger PV systems are eligible for rebates, but only for the first 500 kW (DC) for non-residential systems and for the first 5 kW (DC) for residential systems. The minimum project size is 1 kW-DC (STC).
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Rebate amounts are based on the PV system size and certain other characteristics of the project. Residential rebates are capped at the lesser of 100% of total installed costs, or a rebate based on a maximum size of 5 kW (DC) -- even if the system is larger. The current rebate levels for residential PV systems are: |
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Base incentive: $2.00/watt
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Adder for Massachusetts company components: $0.25/watt
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Adder for moderate home value: $1.25/watt
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Adder for moderate income: $1.00/watt or $2.00/watt, depending on income level
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Massachusetts Renewable Energy Equipment Sales Tax Exemption
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Massachusetts law exempts from the state's sales tax "equipment directly relating to any solar, windpowered; or heat pump system, which is being utilized as a primary or auxiliary power system for the purpose of heating or otherwise supplying the energy needs of an individual's principal residence in the commonwealth."
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Massachusetts Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption
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Massachusetts law provides that solar-energy systems and wind-energy systems used as a primary or auxiliary power system for the purpose of heating or otherwise supplying the energy needs of taxable property are exempt from local property tax for a 20-year period. Hydropower facilities are also exempt from local property tax for a 20-year period if a system owner enters into an agreement with the city or town to make a payment (in lieu of taxes) of at least 5% of its gross income in the preceding calendar year.
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This incentive applies only to the value added to a property by an eligible system, according to the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER). It does not constitute an exemption for the full amount of the property tax bill.
Web site: http://www.mass.gov/doer |
Massachusetts Residential Renewable Energy Income Tax Credit
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Massachusetts allows a 15% credit -- up to $1,000 -- against the state income tax for the cost of a renewable-energy system (including installation costs) installed on an individual’s primary residence. If the credit amount is greater than a resident's income tax liability, the excess credit amount may be carried forward to the next succeeding year for up to three years. Eligible technologies include solar water and space heating, photovoltaics (PV), and wind-energy systems.
The credit is available to any owner or tenant of residential property. For a newly constructed home, the credit is available to the original owner/occupant.
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