At our March communities meeting, Mass Save representatives presented on the completely revamped Mass Save energy efficiency incentive programs for 2022. As a reminder, communities served by National Grid, Eversource, Cape Light Compact, Unitil, Liberty and Berkshire Gas all pay into a fund that is used by the Mass Save program to fund energy efficiency. Our partner communities served by a Municipal Light Plants have energy efficiency services that vary – from the innovators to the laggards – and many residents in those communities bear the full cost for insulating their homes.
Highlights for most residents in communities served by Mass Save include:
- 100% off energy assessments and air sealing
- 75% off insulation
- Incentives for heat pumps – up to $10,000 for a whole home conversion or $15,000 for a geothermal system, now available to homes heated by natural gas as well as fuel oil and propane
- Incentives for battery-powered yard equipment, from $75 for an electric lawnmower to $30 for an electric trimmer, chainsaw or leaf blower
- Loans up to $25,000 at 0% interest for 7 years for energy efficiency projects PLUS costs of solar, thermal or battery storage.
The Mass Save program has provided huge benefits and savings to Massachusetts ratepayers. However, these have not been equitably distributed. In fact, residents with the highest “energy burden” (percentage of their income going to energy bills) have been least likely to have benefited from Mass Save. The attention and money going to correct this imbalance has increased but, in my opinion, still has a long way to go. Hopefully, the increases in incentives for renters, English-isolated, and low and moderate income households will prove successful. Here are those highlights:
- 100% off insulation for ALL RENTAL UNITS
- 100% off insulation for moderate-income households
- Up to $7,000 for mitigation of barriers to weatherization (like bathrooms without an exhaust fan having excessive moisture, or knob and tube wiring)
- Up to $15,000 for whole-home conversion to heat pumps
We need ALL of our communities to get out there and try new ways to reach renters, English-isolated, and low= and moderate-income households. We need equity and emissions reductions.
Definitions:
“Moderate income” is 61-80% of state median income
“Low income” is <60% of state median income and are served by the local Community Action Partnership (CAP) agency serves.
See here for Area Median income which determines what amounts these categories correspond to on a yearly basis.
