Posts

smartprogram

Massachusetts’ New Solar Incentive: What You Need to Know for 2025–2026

How the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program 3.0 can empower homeowners — and how you can get started today with a free quote from SGE Solar.

If you’ve been thinking about going solar in Massachusetts, now is a pivotal moment. The state’s solar incentive program has just been redesigned — which means significant opportunity for homeowners to lock in savings and benefit from cleaner, locally-generated power. Let’s walk through what’s changed, what it means for you, and how SGE Solar can help you get set up.

The Massachusetts Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) recently finalized the updated version of the SMART program — dubbed “SMART 3.0”. Massachusetts Official Website+3Massachusetts Official Website+3pv magazine USA+3
Here are some of the key shifts:

  • The regulations for SMART 3.0 (under 225 CMR 28.00) became effective September 12, 2025. Massachusetts Official Website+2pv magazine USA+2

  • For Program Year (PY) 2025 — which begins October 15, 2025 and runs through December 31, 2025 — there is 900 MW AC of capacity available for systems subject to the cap. Massachusetts Official Website+1

  • Applications for PY 2026 are anticipated to open January 1 (or start of year) through December 31, 2026; DOER published a draft PY 2026 annual report in October 2025 for comment. Massachusetts Official Website+2Massachusetts Official Website+2

  • The foundational model of incentives has shifted: Instead of block-by-block declining rates only, SMART 3.0 will feature annual adjustments of compensation rates and capacity based on market conditions. pv magazine USA+1

What does this mean for homeowners?

  • Better clarity & stability: Under SMART 3.0, once you partner with a qualified installer and your system qualifies, you lock in a per-kWh compensation rate. The annual assessment mechanism means the DOER can adjust future years, but your contract is fixed. pv magazine USA+1

  • Capacity is limited: For PY 2025 there is an explicit “block” of 900 MW AC. If that capacity fills up, you’ll risk missing out or facing lower rates. Massachusetts Official Website+1

  • Must act in time: With both state incentives (SMART) and federal incentives (like the Investment Tax Credit (ITC)) in play, moving quickly helps you maximize savings. globalrenewablenews.com

  • Increased incentives for equity & special projects: SMART 3.0 introduces stronger incentives / adders for low-income households, brownfield or landfill sites, canopy solar, etc. Massachusetts Official Website

  • Behind-the-meter & smaller systems remain viable: Even smaller rooftop systems have pathways to participate under SMART 3.0. EnergyBot

Why choose SGE Solar now?

If you live in Massachusetts (our office is in Milford, Massachusetts which we serve all over MA), working with a local solar installer like SGE Solar brings you several advantages:

  • Free assessment and quote: SGE Solar can evaluate your roof, your usage, your electric bill, and walk you through how the SMART 3.0 incentive will apply to your specific case.

  • Navigational expertise: The new rules do bring changes — proper sizing, interconnection, timing and application matters. A trusted installer will know the process and help you avoid delays or pitfalls.

  • Lock in early: Because capacity and incentives may shift, putting a system into motion now means you’re ahead of the crowd — and can secure your contract under current favorable conditions.

  • Increase your savings: Between the state incentive, the federal tax credit, and potential energy bill savings, you could significantly reduce your electricity costs for years to come. SGE Solar can provide a model for what your return on investment might look like.

Sample homeowner journey

Here’s how a typical homeowner might proceed with SGE Solar under SMART 3.0:

  1. Contact SGE Solar for your free quote: get your roof assessed, review your historical electricity usage, see system sizing options.

  2. Review the SMART 3.0 details together: SGE Solar will explain how the per-kWh compensation will work, what adders you may qualify for (if any), and how your bill credits or payments may be structured.

  3. Apply: SGE Solar handles much of the paperwork — system design, submitting required forms to your utility and to DOER/SMART as needed.

  4. Install & interconnect: Your system gets built, inspections happen, and once your system is live you begin benefiting from clean energy + incentives.

  5. Monitor & enjoy savings: Over the lifetime of your system, you’ll see your savings accumulate — both from producing your own power and from the SMART incentive plus any applicable federal credit.

Important things to watch

  • Application timing matters: Because the capacity is capped and the incentives are tied to when you apply and qualify, delays can reduce or eliminate your benefits.

  • System size & eligibility: Make sure your system size, location, and roof / property status qualify under SMART 3.0. Some adders or special categories may require additional documentation. (For example, low-income housing, landfills, brownfield, canopy installations).

  • Future years may see lower incentives: Since SMART 3.0 incorporates annual assessment, each subsequent year (2026 and beyond) could have different compensation rates depending on market conditions. Acting during PY 2025 may give you a stronger position.

  • Federal tax credit phase-out: The federal ITC is subject to change and may reduce over time. Capturing both state and federal incentives gives you the strongest savings. globalrenewablenews.com+1

  • Work with a qualified installer: Because new rules are in place, the installer you choose should be familiar with MA’s SMART program, the interconnection process, and all the filing requirements.

If you live in Massachusetts and are considering solar, don’t wait. The window to act under the new SMART 3.0 regime is open now — and the sooner you apply, the better position you’ll be in to capture strong incentives and bill savings.

Contact SGE Solar today for your free solar quote. We’ll walk you through:

  • Your roof and site’s suitability

  • A tailored system size and layout

  • The projected savings under SMART 3.0 + federal incentives

  • An expected timeline and cost overview

  • How quickly you can start saving on your electricity bill

Let’s make 2025 – 2026 the year you switch to clean, efficient solar power — backed by Massachusetts’ strong incentive program.

Changing Energy Economy

More people are deciding to go solar every year. Going solar will reduce or eliminate your electric bill, earn a good return for your investment, increase your property value, protect against rising energy costs, and protect the environment by cutting your consumption of non-renewable energy.

As the demand for solar and other types of clean energy jobs increases all over the country, blue-collar jobs in the field are booming. Forbes magazine states that over time it will become less expensive to build new renewable energy than run existing coal plants without. The construction and operation of new renewable energy plants that replace coal is the newest progressive transition in the energy economy today. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that the two fastest growing in 2026 will be solar installer and wind technician.  The increase in green jobs is happening in both red and blue states. The American Wind  and Energy Association posted a map (https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/960×0/https%3A%2F%2Fblogs-images.forbes.com%2Fenergyinnovation%2Ffiles%2F2019%2F04%2FCongressional-District-wind-industry-footprint-1200×932.jpg) of congressional districts with online wind projects and wind-related manufacturing facilities.

Coal jobs however are in a general decline from 86,000 in 2009 to 52,000 in 2018 (with small 2,000 increase due to President Trump’s efforts between 2017-2018). This changing market economy has led to dozens of coal plant closures in 2017, with a 4% drop in coal consumption in 2018 and 8.4% drop in consumption in 2019. Many areas int he US see a general decline in cost of renewable energy, though in some areas the cost of it might not yet be below coal. VCE Energy Innovation produced a map (https://blogs-images.forbes.com/energyinnovation/files/2019/04/Coal-MCOE.gif?) forecasting this disparity visually for wind and solar systems. It shows that these systems may be cheaper than coal energy more-so in the eastern half of the country and in south-western states, with some difference in the center of the nation as well. This may be due to more sunlight exposure and wind energy capacity in these areas. In places with still a higher forecasted cost of renewable energy than coal we know coal is a major industry, like near the Mexican Gulf and in the north-west. This map is not necessarily complete and still misses detail, but it could indicate further geographical disparities in production of wind and solar energy by 2025.

According to Brookings Institution research, clean energy jobs are commonly available to people without college degrees, like 45% of all workers in the clean energy production industry doing electrical work, installation, repair, and plant powering. The institute took Occupational Employment Statistics data in 2016 to show that the mean hourly wage in the clean energy jobs market in higher than the national average mean hourly income by about 8%-19%.

We are excited to anticipate more people going solar to reduce their carbon footprint and save money! Request quote or send a referral today to Second Generation Energy and get started on adding solar panels to your home or business. We will help you achieve your specific goals every step of the way and are happy to help.

 

Smart Solar Incentive

The New SMART program is a new long-term, sustainable solar incentive program meant to promote cost-effective solar development. Through SMART, Massachusetts will procure Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) over as many as eight (8) consecutive “capacity blocks”of approximately 200 MW each.Qualified solar projects enrolled in the program will receive tariff-based payments for 10 or 20 years depending on project size, subject to compensation rate adders and subtractors that reflect project characteristics including project location, whether the project has battery storage capability, or will serve low-income customers. Contact SGE Solar to setup your free consultation and learn how you can benefit from the SMART Solar Program!

SMART Benefits:

  • Long-term revenue certainty for solar producers, reducing financing costs and lowering overall project costs
  • Predictable program costs
  • Incentives that decline with the cost of solar
  • Contract prices that are identical and predictable across utility service territories, regardless of varying retail prices