Perch raises $30M from Nuveen to expand access to community solar savings for all Read >
$35,000,000+ total discounts to Perch subscribers!

Community solar in Massachusetts

Perch helps thousands of renters, homeowners and businesses save money the easy way from solar—no rooftop panels required. Help your wallet, help the planet. Get matched to a local solar farm today!

Massachusetts community solar map

Lower your electric bill with community solar

Easy savings. No rooftop panels. Free to join.
Topics covered
  • 1.
    About community solar
  • 2.
    How does community solar work in Massachusetts?
  • 3.
    Who can join community solar?
  • 4.
    Sign up and save
  • 5.
    Benefits of community solar
  • 6.
    Community solar FAQs
  • 7.
    Massachusetts' clean energy programs

About Perch

Perch was part of the team that pioneered community solar in Massachusetts in 2013. Now serving customers on over 110 solar projects across the country and growing, we're helping lower electricity costs for residents and businesses, one community at a time.

About community solar: A subscription that rewards you for helping the planet

Community solar is an exciting solar sharing option available in Massachusetts for those who can't install rooftop panels, but still want the cost-savings and eco benefits of solar power. With Perch, we'll match you to a local solar farm in your area. Your “subscription” enables that farm to pump more clean energy onto the grid. In return, you receive a discount on your own electricity cost in the form of credits. Perch handles all the legwork, you just sit back and enjoy the savings.

Read more
solar-farm

How does community solar in Massachusetts work?

  • 1
    A local solar farm exists or a new one is built
  • 2
    It's connected to the utility and sends eco-friendly solar power to Massachusetts' electric grid
  • 3
    The energy production is translated into "solar credits," and as a subscriber of the farm you earn a share of those credits
  • 4
    Credits are applied directly to your electricity bill; you'll pay Perch for those credits but at a discounted rate, leaving you with net savings
  • No changes to your existing utility or electric provider
massachusetts-coffee-shop-owner

Who can join community solar in Massachusetts?

If you pay an electric bill, you might be eligible for community solar! No rooftop panels required.

Residents

Owners and renters; houses, apartments, condos and all types of residences.

Businesses & franchises

Show your customers you’re eco conscious and improve your bottom line, too.

Universities & hospitals

Put your savings back into those who really matter.

Non-profits

You’re giving so much to your community, enjoy energy savings in return.

Commercial & industrial

The higher your energy bill, the higher potential for savings.

Municipalities

Reinvest your savings into local areas of need.

boston-massachusetts-skyline
Get started in 3 steps

  • 1

    Apply online

    Provide some basic info and a copy of your electric bill or utility account number—we’ll take it from there.

  • 2

    Get matched to a solar farm

    We’ll see if there’s an eligible solar farm in your area, and then analyze your energy usage so we can subscribe you to the right amount of solar shares based on your electricity needs—helping you save as much as possible.

  • 3

    Enjoy savings

    Thanks to government incentives, you’ll get a discount on your electricity cost in the form of credits—like a reward for supporting clean energy generation! Savings vary by state and solar project.

Benefits of community solar in Massachusetts

Benefits to subscribers

  • Save on your electricity costs

  • Available to renters and homeowners, businesses, institutions, municipal buildings and more

  • No rooftop panels required, no installation, no maintenance

  • You feel good about playing a part in transitioning to a cleaner, greener electric grid

Benefits to the state of Massachusetts and the planet

  • Fights global warming by enabling more eco-friendly clean energy generation

  • Helps lessen Massachusetts's dependence on harmful fossil fuel energy sources, lowering the state's overall carbon emissions

  • Community solar programs create local jobs, as every new solar farm requires workers

  • Boosts the local economy since community solar projects and the jobs they create directly serve the communities they're in

Learn about all of community solar's benefits >

Lower your electric bill with community solar

Easy savings. No rooftop panels. Free to join.

Massachusetts community solar FAQs

How do community solar credits and billing work in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts community solar programs are required by state legislation to use Non-Universal Consolidated Billing, which is a two-bill model where you see your full credits applied directly to your existing utility bill, but then get a separate bill from Perch for the cost of those credits (their monetary value based on your solar share farm share’s energy production)—but at a discounted rate. You’re paying for your share’s generated utility credit, but at a lesser price point thanks to the community solar discount Perch provides.

FOR EXAMPLE

    • If your solar share generates $100 of credits

      You’ll see the full $100 deduction directly on your utility bill.

  • Perch then bills you for those credits at a discounted rate

    • You may pay Perch $90

      It’s like paying $90 to receive $100

    • $10 is your net savings that month

      Expand that over a year and your savings add up!

Who in Massachusetts is eligible for community solar?
Some eligibility requirements do apply depending on the project and location. But if you pay an electricity bill, you may be eligible for community solar! That includes residents (renters and homeowners), businesses, franchises, non-profits, universities, religious organizations, hospitals, municipality buildings, stores, and more.
Does it cost anything to join a Massachusetts community solar program?
No. Signing up for community solar with Perch is totally free with no upfront fees. Once you’re matched to a farm, we’ll thoroughly explain how your credits work so you aren’t surprised by anything.
How much can I save with community solar in Massachusetts?
Based on Massachusetts legislation and the policies around specific projects, community solar subscribers in Massachusetts typically save between 5-10% on annual electricity costs! Savings vary based on your location and the project you’re assigned to and may differ month to month. Exact savings not guaranteed.
Does community solar change my utility company or electricity provider?
Nope! Neither your utility nor electricity provider will change with community solar.
Does Perch own the solar farms in Massachusetts?
We don’t. Solar farms are usually owned by companies, firms, special entities or in some cases the utilities themselves. Perch just manages solar farms and helps you, the customer or subscriber, get savings.
Where does the electricity go that a Massachusetts solar farm generates?
Onto the overall grid! Because solar farms are connected to the utility, the energy they produce is put onto the grid and the utility distributes it as needed. The benefit is that the utility is getting loads of clean, eco-friendly energy as opposed to energy from harmful fossil fuel sources.
Does a solar farm have to be in my city or town for me to subscribe?
No. While there does need to be one within a certain vicinity and with a certain amount of capacity available to take on subscribers, it doesn’t necessarily need to be in your city or town. The solar farm’s energy isn’t going directly into your home or business, so it’s not as though you must be within range of the transmission lines. When you sign up with Perch, the first thing we do is check if there’s a solar farm available to you.

About Massachusetts community solar and the state's clean energy programs

Massachusetts has a long history of clean energy policies and programs. This includes the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program which incentivized 1,600 MWs of solar development in its first iteration and up to 3,200 MW in its 2020 update.

Read more

Get matched to a local solar farm and save on your electricity costs.