Town of Nantucket
Stimulating Ownership & Local Adoption of Renewables
(SOLAR) Rebate Program
Approved by Nantucket Board of Selectmen: May 24, 2017
Program Effective Launch Date: July 1, 2017
In July 2017, the Town of Nantucket launched a "first-of-its-kind" local solar rebate program intended to stimulate the adoption of solar energy systems on primary, residential properties located on Nantucket. Rebates of up to $2,500 are provided to cover a portion of the costs of successfully-installed solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, making ownership more affordable for local residents.
This program is intended to provide a number of key community benefits:
- To increase the capacity and affordability of residential solar energy systems on Nantucket
- To boost the amount of green power provided by the Nantucket PowerChoice aggregation program utilizing local renewable energy sources
- To reduce expensive capacity charges, thus electric prices for all aggregation program participants
- To decrease summer peak load, helping to defer the need for a costly 3rd undersea transmission cable; an investment historically paid for by Nantucket ratepayers
- To improve local electric grid resiliency and reliability
- To reduce local dependence on traditional fossil fuel generation, thereby lessening the island’s carbon footprint and improving air quality
The Solar Rebate Program is funded through an extra 1/10th ¢ per kilowatt hour (kWh) charge that is included in the Nantucket PowerChoice supply rate. The solar "adder" equates to 80¢ per-month for an average resident using 800kWh/month.
The rebates are available on a first come, first served basis as funds are available.
Questions? Please direct questions to Lauren Sinatra, Energy Coordinator at LSinatra@nantucket-ma.gov or 508-325-5379.