Solar energy plays an important role in increasing the amount of renewables in the energy mix across our system.

We're committed to supporting large solar projects and facilities across our three states, and to providing incentives and development support for customers to install their own solar projects at home.

Through February 2025, more than 187,000 Eversource customers have installed more than 2,950 megawatts (MW) of customer-sited solar. 

Massachusetts Solar

We work closely with the Department of Energy Resources to support the implementation of the state’s primary solar incentive initiative, the SMART program. To date, more than 29,000 customers have participated in the new program.

Our solar program is focused on developing large-scale solar facilities on sites that offer economies of scale and cost-effective energy production. The capacity from these facilities also represents a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

We allocated $146.3 million of the 2019 green bond proceeds to the construction of 19 photovoltaic solar generation sites in cities and towns across Massachusetts. In December 2016, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities approved a proposal for us to own, construct and operate 62 MW of solar generation facilities. We completed construction of these projects in 2018. These additional 62 MW of solar capacity are estimated to save nearly 32,000 metric tons of carbon per year.

In addition to the projects constructed in 2018, we own and operate 8 MW solar generation facilities constructed from 2010 through 2014. 

In total, we now own and operate 22 solar generation facilities across Massachusetts. We sell the solar energy directly into the regional energy market managed by ISO New England and customers benefit from the proceeds. Additionally, we also receive Renewable Energy Certificates for the power we produce and we pass the savings along to customers through electricity rates.

The total amount of solar electricity we generate is enough to power more than 11,000 homes, avoiding nearly 36,000 metric tons of carbon emissions per year. Our total solar generation portfolio will represent the equivalent to taking 7,600 cars off the road per year.

Connecticut Solar

We operate three clean energy programs in Connecticut.

The Residential Renewable Energy Solutions program (RRES) and the Non-Residential Renewable Energy Solutions program (NRES) were launched in 2022 to provide incentives for customers to install onsite renewable energy generation along with optional storage. Through the end of 2024, more than 30,000 customers participated, including over 8,400 low-income and distressed municipality customers. We expect 488 MW of new clean energy projects to be developed through the NRES program and more than 300 MW of new solar projects to be developed through the RRES program over the next several years.

In 2024 we began enrolling Connecticut customers in the Shared Clean Energy Facilities program, through which we will purchase energy from up to 260 MW of new renewable generating facilities and deliver bill credits generated by these projects to participants for up to 20 years. This program is focused on serving historically disadvantaged populations and eliminates traditional barriers to accessing solar energy for qualifying customers. 

To date, nearly 2,500 customers have been enrolled in the SCEF program.

New Hampshire Solar

In July 2022, the New Hampshire legislature established a low-to-moderate-income community solar program that allows for up to 6 MW per year in total capacity of projects. We will be partnering with the New Hampshire Department of Energy to identify and enroll low-income customers participating in the electric assistance program into the community solar projects. Participating customers will receive a monthly solar bill credit for up to 20 years at no cost to them.