Eversource today (April 21) announced the first round of solar projects selected through its Community Solar Access Program, an initiative designed to expand access to solar energy savings for low-income customers across Massachusetts.
Through the program's first competitive solicitation, 11 solar projects were selected that are expected to deliver roughly $420 in annual electric bill savings to approximately 1,400 low-income customers statewide once the projects begin operating.
Massachusetts has invested heavily in solar energy programs designed to expand renewable energy and provide bill savings to customers. The Community Solar Access Program was developed in collaboration with advocates and stakeholders - including representatives of the Attorney General's office - to help ensure that financial benefits of solar energy reach low-income households more directly by connecting eligible customers with solar bill credits from participating projects. The program helps customers who may not otherwise be able to participate in solar programs benefit from Massachusetts' ongoing clean energy transition.
"Expanding access to clean energy savings is an important part of ensuring the energy transition benefits everyone," said Andrew Belden, Vice President of Solar Programs at Eversource. "This program helps connect low-income customers with the financial benefits of solar energy while providing meaningful bill relief to households that need it most."
Customers participating in the program will receive solar bill credits directly on their electric bills. Participants will be selected from Eversource customers enrolled in the company's low-income Discount Rate Program, with additional focus on customers experiencing arrears and those living in environmental justice communities.
The selected solar projects are located in communities across Massachusetts - including Dartmouth, Maynard, Sharon, Springfield, Rochester, Westport and Woburn - and are in various stages of development. As projects begin operating, eligible customers enrolled in the program will start receiving solar bill credits that help lower their monthly electric bills. Eligible customers need not live in the host communities to participate in and benefit from the program.
The Community Solar Access Program builds on Massachusetts' broader solar initiatives by helping ensure the benefits of solar energy are shared more broadly across the state. The program operates within the Commonwealth's existing distributed solar incentive framework (the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target, or "SMART" program), which supports the development of solar resources across Massachusetts.
This first round represents the beginning of what Eversource expects will be multiple future rounds of the program as additional solar projects are developed.
Customers interested in learning more about bill assistance programs and energy-saving opportunities can visit Eversource.com.
Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its commitment to sustainability and corporate citizenship, is named among America's Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek for 2026 and recognized as the #1 utility on USA Today's list of America's Climate Leaders for 2025. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to 2.3 million customers throughout Massachusetts, including approximately 1.62 million electric customers in 159 communities, 641,000 gas customers in 125 communities, and 12,000 water customers in five communities. Eversource harnesses the commitment of more than 10,500 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The #1 Energy Efficiency Provider in the Nation, the company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like a first-in-the-nation networked geothermal pilot project, solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.
CONTACT:
William Hinkle
603-634-2228
william.hinkle@eversource.com
Olessa Stepanova
781-441-8952
olessa.stepanova@eversource.com
