Commonwealth Solar Hot Water Commercial Program (Massachusetts)
Last modified on February 12, 2015.
Financial Incentive Program
| Place | Massachusetts
|
|---|---|
| Name | Commonwealth Solar Hot Water Commercial Program |
| Incentive Type | State Rebate Program |
| Applicable Sector | Agricultural, Commercial, Fed. Government, Industrial, Local Government, Multi-Family Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, State Government, Tribal Government |
| Eligible Technologies | Solar Water Heat |
| Active Incentive | Yes |
| Implementing Sector | State/Territory |
| Energy Category | Renewable Energy Incentive Programs |
| Amount | Feasibility study: $5,000; Construction grants: $45*number of collectors*SRCC Rating (Private); $55*number of collectors*SRCC Rating (Public/Non-Profit)
|
| Equipment Requirements | Must be new, OG-100 and OG-300 certified, 10 year warranty (collectors), 2 year warranty (other system components) |
| Start Date | 2011-08-04
|
| Funding Source | Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund |
| Installation Requirements | Must be installed where the collectors will receive at least 5 hours of sunlight a day (75% shade-free).
|
| Maximum Incentive | Feasibility study: $5,000;
Construction: 25% system costs or $50,000 |
| Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits | Not addressed
|
| Program Budget | 2011-2012: $1,000,000; 2012-2016: $10,000,000
|
| Program Administrator | Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) |
| Website | http://www.masscec.com/programs/commonwealth-solar-hot-water
|
| References | Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency[1] |
Summary
Feasibility study grants
Beginning in August 2011, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) will provide grants* for feasibility studies of commercial solar hot water systems through the Commonwealth Solar Hot Water Commercial Pilot Program. Commonwealth Solar Hot Water Commercial grants 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. In addition, customers of certain municipal lighting plant (MLP) including Ashburnham, Templeton, Holden, Holyoke and Russell utilities are eligible. Only entities that live in territories that contribute to the MassCEC Renewable Energy Trust Fund are eligible for the grant.
Up to $5,000 is available for private entities, with a cost-share of at least 25%. The cap for public entities is also $5,000 but the cost-share requirement is only 5%. To be eligible, building owners must hire an experienced consultant to do the feasibility work. The project location must be appropriate and must have enough sun and the building must have year-round hot water needs. The application must also demonstrate that the time frame and budget required for the feasibility study are "reasonable." The consultant completes and submits the application and supporting documentation (such as aerial photos, copies of electric bills) on the building owner's behalf. All projects must be approved before feasibility study work begins.
It should be noted that a feasibility study is required to be eligible for construction grants.
Construction grants
The same eligibility requirements apply to construction grants as feasibilty study grants. Systems may be installed regardless of the source of back-up heating (not restricted to just electricity back-up). Third-party ownership is permitted. Rebates are calculated by multiplying $45 times the number of collectors times the SRCC rating (for commercial installations, public installations are eligible for $55 times the collectors times SRCC). There are adders available for components manufactured in Massachusetts, systems owners who participate in the MassCEC performance monitoring program, as well as for buildings impacted by the June 1, 2011 tornado in western Massachusetts (additional back up documentation is required to prove the building was impacted by the tornado). The rebates are capped at 25% system costs or $50,000.
Applications are completed online by the installer. Pre-approval is required and the installation must occur within 9 months of receiving approval. MassCEC may inspect any system after it is installed.
* Although the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center calls these "grants," these incentives are first-come, first-served and are non-competitive as long as all the eligibility criteria are met. Therefore, it falls under the categorization of "rebate" according to DSIRE methodology.
Incentive Contact
| Contact Name | Information - Commonwealth Solar Hot Water |
|---|---|
| Department | Massachusetts Clean Energy Center |
| Address | 55 Summer Street, 9th Floor |
| Place | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Zip/Postal Code | 02110
|
| solarhotwater@masscec.com | |
| Website | http://www.masscec.com/solarhotwater |
- Incentive and policy data are reviewed and approved by the N.C. Solar Center's DSIRE project staff.[2]
References
Rebates Grants Solar Water Heating Incentives
| SWH Commercial Max $ | $50,000 |
|---|---|
| SWH Non-profit Max $ | $50,000 |
| SWH Commercial % Max | 25% |
| SWH Non-profit % Max | 25%
|
- Incentive and policy data are reviewed and approved by the N.C. Solar Center's DSIRE project staff.[1]
References