The clouds in New England can't keep the sun out of Massachusetts, but the connection is faltering, and that gives developers pause for thought.
SHADOWY, a Boston-based organization, has put renewable-energy advocates in a quandary by challenging a key subsidy used to spur solar industry growth. The state tax credit for solar panels, which is intended to encourage the installation of solar panels and generate clean energy, can reduce the total cost of a system, including installation, by up to 30%. In addition to nationwide solar discounts, cities like Boston also offer incentives for residents to opt for solar energy. Check out our database of government incentives for renewable energy and efficiency to see government solar incentives, incentives by state, county, and city, and a list of state and local incentives.
Cities that take advantage of solar power in America ranked fourth in installed solar capacity per capita. A map of Boston on Mapdwell.com provides accurate and accessible information about solar energy for residents and businesses. The tool maps 127,000 buildings in Boston and finds that Boston has the second-largest number of solar panels per capita in the country, behind New York City. We also found that the Massachusetts solar industry contributed $11.8 billion to the Massachusetts economy in 2016 and $1.5 billion in 2015.
In total, Borrego Solar installed almost one megawatt of solar capacity, which was 17% of all solar power plants in Massachusetts at the time. That means that solar energy in Massachusetts has the potential to provide nearly half of the electricity we use today.
If the same system had been installed in Sacramento, it would have generated more than twice as much energy as it does today. If solar panels were installed around the Boston area, they would generate more energy than California does today.
According to EnergySage, buying a solar system for your home costs between $18,000 and $25,000, with incentives for installing and installing it, which is about $7 a year. To find the average hours of sunshine per day in Boston, check out this solar irradiation map provided by our team here at Blue Pacific Solar. I prefer the "average hours of sunshine" map when designing my house - solar kit, because it is much more accurate.
All in all, you may be surprised at how affordable and profitable the installation of solar panels can be. You can expect to pay the same amount for your neighbor's solar panel and save about half of that amount.
Solar energy generates more electricity per MWh than coal, oil and electricity, according to a study by the University of California at Berkeley. Renewables employ more Americans than all coal, oil, and gas combined, while wind and solar power account for only about 1.5% of the US energy mix.
The Solar Energy Advantage Program generates one million kilowatt hours of electricity per year and generates between 1,500 and 2,000 megawatts (GWh), depending on the size and location of the project. The NREL found that rooftop solar panels in the Boston area have the potential to provide 111,398 G Wh of electricity this year - enough to power more than 1.5 million homes.
Strong state solar policy has played an important role in promoting solar energy growth in Boston and Massachusetts. Indeed, Boston is among the ten states with the highest number of residents who have installed solar panels. State - Extensive tax credits are calculated up to a maximum of $1,000 for each solar and energy system. The full $100 is subject to the property tax, which is the equivalent of the increased value of a home with installed solar panels, and will represent 100% of tax revenue in the first 20 years after installation, according to Boston's Treasury Department.
Between 2011 and 2016, Massachusetts increased its solar energy production from 0% to 6% of total electricity generation. This is the highest growth rate of any state in the US and the second highest in Massachusetts after New York.
In addition to reducing emissions from global warming and curbing other forms of harmful air pollution, solar energy is growing by an average of 127% per year. This trend has led to higher electricity bills for Massachusetts residents, which has motivated many to switch to renewable energy (such as solar) to save money. Considering that Boston is one of the most expensive places in the US where energy prices are well above the national average, installing solar panels on your home or business seems to be a natural and clean way to save a considerable amount of money!
To see what solar energy can offer, please contact a local company to see if the next step is installing solar panels. New Day Energy is sensitive to customers with different financial needs and works with you to provide the most cost-effective - effective solution to the energy needs of your home or business.