If you live in Marblehead, MA, then you are in luck because the Marblehead Municipal Light Plant now offers a solar PV rebate to its residential customers. The reason why I say you’re in luck is because most municipal light plants in the state do not offer their own rebate or participate in the state solar rebate program called Commonwealth Solar II.

Typically, municipal light plants, like Marblehead, are not eligible to participate in the Commonwealth Solar II program. However, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), enacted a new policy that municipal plants could participate if they contribute to the Mass Renewable Energy Trust. The Marblehead Municipal Light plant chose to forgo membership in to the MassCEC and decided to fund its own solar rebate program.

Marblehead’s solar rebate program mirrors the MassCEC’s Commonwealth Solar II rebate program in both eligibility and incentives. The rebate is available for photovoltaic solar installations less than or equal to 10 kW, and only offered to residential customers. Solar rebates are only paid out on the first 5 kW.

Please remember, a solar rebate is only one out of many incentives that are offered for Massachusetts solar installations. Rebates are not available for “do-it-yourself” projects and installations must be completed by professional, licensed solar contractors. Please talk to a Massachusetts solar installer to schedule a free evaluation to determine if you have good site for solar power and find out about the wide range of incentives available to you.

Marblehead Municipal Light Plant Solar Rebate Program

Base Incentive: $1.00 per watt

Adder for Massachusetts company components: $0.10 per watt

To qualify for the MA company components adder, you will have to provide proof that the solar (PV) modules, the inverter(s), or another significant component that is important to the electricity production is manufactured by a company with a significant Massachusetts presence. This is determined at the sole discretion of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). Current companies and products on this list are:

Evergreen Solar: modules
Schott Solar: modules (Only Schott ASE 300 series modules)
Satcon: inverters
Solectria Renewables: inverters
Beacon Power: inverters
Panel Claw: mounting systems

Adder for moderate home value: $1.00 per watt, OR

To qualify for this adder, the System Owner must be the owner and a resident of the home. Moderate home value is determined the most recent tax assessment as determined by the municipality. In order to qualify, the owner’s primary residence must be less than or equal to the following for the appropriate county of residence:

Essex ≤ $400,000

Please note: The rebate is limited to a solar project on the System Owner’s primary residence, and is only applied to the first 5 kW. A System Owner can qualify for moderate home value adder OR moderate income adder, not both.

Adder for moderate income: $1.00 per watt

A System Owner can qualify for the Moderate Income Adder based on an individual income less than or equal to $75,810 (for single person households) or based on combined household income less than or equal to $95,420 (for households of two or more individuals). Income must be documented on 2009 IRS tax filings for all household members 18 and over.

MAXIMUM REBATE FOR RESIDENTIAL INSTALLATIONS = $10,500