Funding is available for both solar electric and solar hot water on both houses and businesses:

A Federal income tax credit is available through 2008: 30% of the cost of your system up to $2000 for residential installations. Commercial properties can receive a federal income tax credit of 30% of the cost of the system with no limit.

A State tax credit of 15% up to $1000 is available for systems on a primary residence.

A 5 - year accelerated depreciation is available for solar systems installed on businesses.

There is no sales tax on solar equipment.

Subsidies are available for solar electric systems from funds collected under the Renewable Energy line item of your electric bill and administered by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. The subsidy chart below is at $2.00/watt. Funding applications are reviewed on a first come-first serve basis.
 

For more information on the subsidies available, go to the Commonwealth Solar site. Fill out the site survey to work with Under the Sun or, contact South Mountain Company to find out their equipment and installation cost.

Under the Sun's Cost of Grid-Tied Solar Electric Systems with Subsidy
A Standard, roof-mounted installation "soup to nuts" without complications:

System Size
Installed Cost*
Cost after Subsidy
Estimated Production**
1.6 Kilowatt (8 Panels)
$15,800 
$12,600
2,000 kwh/year
2.4 Kilowatt (12 Panels)
$22,150 
$17,350
3,000 kwh/year
3.2 Kilowatt (16 Panels)
$28,200 
$21,800
4,000 kwh/year
4.8 Kilowatt (24 Panels)
$41,500 
$31,900
6,000 kwh/year

* Extra costs for custom site conditions: ground-mounted systems, cedar shingle roof installations, or sites that require extra travel time. Because of panel shortages, prices, and brand of panels and inverters may vary. In addition, because of varying freight and copper wire costs, costs may be higher than estimated here. Panel size is 3’-0” wide x 4’-4” long.

** Production based on unshaded panels facing true south, mounted at 40 degrees.
Check your electric bill to see how these numbers compare to your usage. The right hand side of the bill shows you this month. The left hand shows you the last year. The average Vineyard family of 4 uses 6,000- 7200 kwh/year. With energy efficiency measures that could be reduced by at least 25%.  Call 800-797-6699 to sign up for a free energy audit.

Renewable Energy Credits for Solar Electric Systems

In addition to spinning your meter backwards, you have the opportunity to sell the green attributes from your PV system to be part of Cape Light Green. Mass Energy is currently offering to purchase these attributes at a rate of $0.03 per kilowatt-hour for three years. This offer to purchase energy attributes is in addition to the savings you receive from your energy production through net metering and other incentives.

Your renewable energy attributes will be packaged together with those from other renewable sources and sold to customers who are willing to pay a premium price to support clean power.