Solar incentive runs out in Massachusetts

BOSTON – The state’s solar developers face a surprising new challenge now that a generous incentive for the industry has quietly evaporated, The Boston Globe reported last week.

For years, the state has issued what are known as solar renewable energy certificates, credits homeowners and businesses earn and can sell when they generate a certain amount of solar power.

To control costs, the state restricts the amount of solar power that can be financed in this way, and state officials informed the industry on Feb. 5 that the cap has been hit.

“The industry’s on hold, basically,” said John DeVillars, managing principal at Boston solar developer BlueWave Capital. “Until there’s clarity on the next incentive program, very little activity will take place.”

- Advertisement -

The solar industry in Rhode Island may have a healthy outlook, however. According to a report released last week by The Solar Foundation, the state ranked first in the nation for percentage job growth in 2015, tripling its total jobs last year from approximately 300 to 941. •

No posts to display