Assessing the Costs and Benefits of Massachusetts' Solar Incentive Programs

Synapse, together with Sustainable Energy Advantage, was retained by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources to assess the direct utility system costs and benefits of the Commonwealth's major solar incentive programs. The analysis included the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program and post-2018 net metering, from 2018 through the systems' full operating lifetimes, extending to 2050. The study found that the SMART program has delivered $1.49 in ratepayer benefits for every $1 spent, providing $11.5 billion in lifetime benefits against $7.7 billion in costs, with nearly $600 million in benefits generated in 2025 alone. It also found that solar installed since 2018 saves the average Massachusetts residential household about $9 per year, even without a direct connection to solar, and that continued solar deployment helps insulate ratepayers from price spikes tied to natural gas generation. 

You can find the report here.