Do I need a new roof before solar?

Not always, and it is the first thing we check. A roof with ten or more years of life left generally takes panels without any work. If yours is closer to the end, the sensible order is roof first, then solar — because removing and reinstalling an array later costs more than doing it once.

What happens if I sell the house?

It depends which way you paid. An owned system transfers with the property like any other fixture. A third-party-owned system — a lease or a power purchase agreement — is a contract, and the usual routes are transferring it to the buyer, buying it out, or settling it at closing.

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Massachusetts · Updated August 2026

Massachusetts solar incentives in 2026

Every solar incentive a Massachusetts homeowner can actually use in 2026, including the SMART tariff, the state tax credit and the battery programs Eversource and National Grid run.

SMARTThe program that replaced SREC II

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The numbers

What Massachusetts actually offers in 2026

Measure	Current	Detail
MA Residential Renewable Energy Credit	15%	Capped at $1,000. Schedule EC
SMART tariff	Per-kWh incentive	Paid over 10 years, declining by block
State sales tax exemption	Full	On residential solar equipment
Property tax exemption	20 years	Statewide
Net metering	Available	Caps apply by utility and system class
ConnectedSolutions battery	Utility program	Eversource, National Grid, Cape Light Compact
Federal residential credit (25D)	Ended	For systems placed in service after Dec 31, 2025

Massachusetts pairs one of the highest electricity rates in the country with a per-kWh production incentive, which is a different structure from most states.

Figures as published August 2026. Utility rates change on published schedules — check your own bill for the rate that applies to your account.

Why the number is what it is

SMART pays on production, not on purchase

Massachusetts replaced its SREC programs with SMART — Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target. Rather than a one-time rebate, SMART pays a per-kilowatt-hour incentive on what your system produces, over a ten-year term.

Like New York’s NY-Sun, SMART is structured in declining blocks. As capacity fills in each utility territory, the rate for the next block steps down. Earlier applications lock higher rates.

ConnectedSolutions is the battery piece

Eversource, National Grid and Cape Light Compact run ConnectedSolutions, which pays homeowners for letting the utility draw on a home battery during peak demand events. It is one of the more mature programs of its kind and it changes the economics of adding storage.

If you are weighing a battery in Massachusetts, ConnectedSolutions should be part of the calculation rather than an afterthought.

The federal residential credit ended. Here is what that actually means.

The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit under Section 25D ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. If you buy a system with cash or a loan in 2026, you cannot claim it. Any site still advertising "30% federal tax credit" for a homeowner purchase is running outdated information.

What remains is Section 48E, the commercial investment credit. It applies to third-party-owned systems — leases and power purchase agreements — where the system owner claims it rather than the homeowner. That is precisely what makes $0-down possible: the credit stays with whoever owns the equipment, and under a PPA that is not you.

We would rather tell you that plainly than let you find out at tax time.

Two ways to pay for solar, and they are very different

If you buy the system

You own the equipment, you keep any renewable energy credits, and you carry the maintenance responsibility. Installed pricing varies by roof, shading and system size.

If you use a PPA

$0 upfront. We install and own the system; you buy the power it produces at a rate set in your agreement, and you only pay for what it actually generates. The system owner carries maintenance for the life of the agreement.

How $0-down solar works in Massachusetts → · What solar costs in Massachusetts →

The residential federal tax credit (25D) ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025.

You will still see ads promising a 30% credit that “ends December 31.” Read the date on them. If you buy a system today as a homeowner, you cannot claim that credit. What remains applies to the owner of the system — which, under a PPA, is us. SolarAmerica does not provide tax advice; talk to your tax professional about your situation.

Who you would be working with

SolarAmerica

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20,000+Installations completed

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We design your system and manage the project; installation is performed by vetted licensed partners in your area.

Massachusetts questions

The things people actually ask

What solar incentives are available in Massachusetts in 2026?

The programs available in Massachusetts are listed on this page, with what each one pays, who receives it and how it is claimed. Your SolarAmerica proposal shows exactly which ones apply to your home.

Do Massachusetts solar incentives apply with $0 down?

Some do, and some go only to the owner of the system. Under a $0-down PPA SolarAmerica owns the system, and your proposal lists which benefits reach you. SolarAmerica does not provide tax advice.

Who handles the solar incentive paperwork?

SolarAmerica handles the applications that run through the installer and the utility, including interconnection. Your proposal lists each incentive separately with who applies for it.

See what your roof and Massachusetts actually add up to

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