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We serve MA, NH, CT, RI, ME, VT, NJ, PA, and TX
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Perfect for renters, condo owners, and shaded roofs
Community solar lets you subscribe to a share of a local solar farm and receive credits on your electricity bill. There is no installation on your roof, no upfront cost, and no maintenance.
You subscribe to a share of a local solar farm
You receive bill credits on your utility statement
No installation, no rooftop panels, no upfront cost
10-20%
Bill Savings
Typical monthly savings
$0
Upfront Cost
No investment required
None
Roof Needed
No panels or equipment
Yes
Cancel Anytime
Most with no penalty
Community solar is ideal for Massachusetts residents who want to save on electricity but cannot or do not want to install rooftop panels.
Cannot modify a rented property. Community solar requires no installation or landlord permission.
Shared roof or HOA rules prevent panels. Subscribe without needing approval.
Trees or orientation make rooftop solar inefficient. Get solar from an optimized location.
Historic preservation restrictions (Back Bay, Beacon Hill) may prohibit roof modifications.
Simply don't want panels on your roof? Community solar is your zero-commitment alternative.
SMART 3.0 low-income adder ($0.06/kWh) enhances credits for eligible households.
Community solar works on a simple subscribe-and-credit model. You do not need to buy equipment or make any changes to your home.
Choose a provider operating in your Eversource, National Grid, or Unitil territory. No upfront cost.
Your share is based on your typical electricity consumption. The solar farm is located in Massachusetts.
The farm produces energy that feeds into the grid and creates net metering credits.
Credits appear automatically on your monthly Eversource, National Grid, or Unitil bill.
You pay less for the credits than they are worth, keeping the difference as savings. Typically 10-20% off.
Community solar farms in Massachusetts qualify for SMART 3.0 with an additional adder of +$0.07/kWh. This makes MA community solar more economically viable than in most states.
+$0.07
Per kWh adder
20 yrs
SMART term
3,200 MW
Program cap
Community solar farms receive an additional $0.07/kWh from the SMART 3.0 program
This benefit is passed through to subscribers as higher bill credits
MA has the highest continental US electric rates (~$0.33/kWh avg), making credits even more valuable
Combined with 1:1 net metering, MA subscribers get some of the best community solar savings in the country
Other SMART 3.0 adders include: battery storage +$0.04/kWh, low-income +$0.05/kWh, canopy/carport +$0.08/kWh, and dual-use agriculture +$0.09/kWh. Adders can be stacked.
Savings depend on your electric bill size and your provider's discount rate. Here are typical examples for MA subscribers.
| Monthly Bill | Min Savings (10%) | Max Savings (20%) |
|---|---|---|
| $100/mo | $10/mo | $20/mo |
| $150/mo | $15/mo | $30/mo |
| $200/mo | $20/mo | $40/mo |
| $250/mo | $25/mo | $50/mo |
| $300/mo | $30/mo | $60/mo |
With MA average electric rates of ~$0.33/kWh (highest in the continental US), community solar credits are worth more here than in most states. The SMART 3.0 $0.07/kWh adder amplifies savings even further.
Both options use solar energy, but they work differently. Community solar is more accessible; rooftop solar offers greater long-term savings.
| Feature | Community Solar | Rooftop Solar |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $0 | $33,000-$37,400 (11 kW) |
| Monthly savings | 10-20% of bill | 50-90% of bill |
| Equipment on your roof | None | Solar panels + inverter |
| Available to renters | Yes | No |
| Maintenance | None (provider handles) | Homeowner responsibility |
| Contract flexibility | Cancel anytime (most programs) | 25+ year ownership |
| Home value increase | No | Yes (~4% avg) |
| SMART 3.0 income | Included in bill credits | $0.03/kWh (20 yrs) |
| Federal 25D tax credit | N/A (expired Dec 2025) | N/A (expired Dec 2025) |
| Net metering credits | Via bill credits | 1:1 retail rate |
Nearly any electricity customer in Massachusetts can join community solar. Requirements are minimal.
Any MA electricity customer (Eversource, National Grid, or Unitil)
Renters, condo owners, and homeowners all eligible
No credit check required (most programs)
No long-term commitment (most allow cancellation)
Eastern MA (Boston, South Shore, Cape Cod, MetroWest, Western MA)
Avg rate: $0.2836/kWh
Central and Southeast MA (Worcester, Brockton, New Bedford, Fall River)
Avg rate: $0.2718/kWh
Small area in north-central MA (Fitchburg, Lunenburg)
Avg rate: $0.2412/kWh
The federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025. $0 available for residential solar purchases in 2026. Community solar never qualified for 25D anyway -- residential subscribers cannot claim tax credits on a community solar subscription.
Your community solar savings come from bill credits, not tax deductions. You are not affected by the 25D expiration.
Community Solar Is NOT Affected
Community solar works through bill credits, not tax credits. The SMART 3.0 program, net metering, and subscription discounts continue unchanged in 2026.
Answers to the most common questions about community solar in Massachusetts.
No. Community solar is a legitimate, regulated program in Massachusetts supported by the SMART 3.0 incentive framework. Providers are vetted by MassDOER and MassCEC. You subscribe to a share of a local solar farm and receive real bill credits on your utility statement from Eversource, National Grid, or Unitil. There is no upfront cost, and you can cancel anytime with most programs.
Most Massachusetts community solar programs do not require a credit check. Eligibility is based on having an active electricity account with Eversource, National Grid, or Unitil. Some providers may run a soft credit check, but this does not affect your credit score. Low-income households often qualify for deeper discounts through the SMART 3.0 low-income adder.
If you move within the same utility territory (for example, staying within Eversource service area), you can usually transfer your subscription to your new address. If you move to a different utility territory or out of state, you can cancel your subscription. Most MA community solar programs have no early termination fees.
Yes. Community solar and rooftop solar are independent. You can subscribe to community solar today, and if you later decide to install rooftop panels, you can cancel your community solar subscription and switch to rooftop. There is no conflict between the two programs.
Your community solar bill credits are based on the electricity generated by your share of the solar farm. The solar farm produces energy, that energy generates net metering credits at your utility rate, and those credits are applied to your bill. You pay the community solar provider a discounted rate for those credits, keeping the difference as savings (typically 10-20%).
Massachusetts community solar benefits from the SMART 3.0 community solar adder of $0.07/kWh on top of the base SMART rate. This additional incentive makes MA community solar farms more economically viable, and the benefit is passed through to subscribers as higher bill credits and greater savings compared to most other states.
Most Massachusetts community solar programs offer flexible terms. Many allow cancellation at any time with no penalty. Some may have 12-month subscription terms. Unlike rooftop solar (which is a 25+ year commitment), community solar is designed to be low-risk and flexible.
Yes. You continue to receive your regular Eversource, National Grid, or Unitil bill. The community solar credits appear as a line item on your bill, reducing your total amount due. You do not switch utility companies or change your electric service in any way.
Post-ITC reality. SMART 3.0, net metering, tax exemptions.
Read guide$0.03/kWh residential, $0.06/kWh low-income, stackable adders.
Read guideWhich financing option works best without 25D? Full comparison.
Read guideAll MA solar, heat pump, and energy guides in one place.
Read guideWhether you rent, own a condo, or simply don't want panels on your roof, community solar lets you save 10-20% on electricity. With the SMART 3.0 $0.07/kWh adder, Massachusetts offers some of the best community solar savings in the country.