Massachusetts property owners earn more with community solar rooftop leasing

Massachusetts’ mature community solar market under SMART and net metering lets CRE owners lease rooftops for steady income with no CapEx. Strong policies, low-to-moderate income (LMI) requirements, and utility participation drive dependable demand.

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Aerial view of a Boston-area warehouse rooftop covered with a SMART-certified community solar array leased through Massachusetts’ commercial rooftop program and interconnected to the Eversource grid.

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Why Massachusetts property owners are turning to community solar

Massachusetts is a national leader in distributed solar. The SMART program and statewide net metering framework enable front‑of‑meter community solar rooftop leasing up to 5MW, creating reliable owner revenue while advancing clean energy and LMI access.

Panoramic shot of a new SMART community-solar installation atop a Route 128 logistics building, feeding clean power into the National Grid network for Massachusetts subscribers.

Benefits of commercial rooftop solar leasing in Massachusetts

Benefit
What It Means for Building Owners
Guaranteed Income
20–25 years of predictable lease payments of up to $2.50 per square foot per year.
Zero capex, zero opex
Developers cover design, construction, and O&M.
ESG value
Supports net-zero commitments and boosts GRESB scores
Tenant & investor appeal
Sustainability-focused tenants and capital providers value solar
Future-proofing
Solar (optionally paired with storage) can hedge against future carbon regulations and improve building resilience.
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Benefits of commercial rooftop solar leasing in Massachusetts

Benefit
What It Means for Building Owners
Guaranteed Income
20–25 years of predictable lease payments of up to $2.50 per square foot per year.
Zero capex, zero opex
Developers cover design, construction, and O&M.
ESG value
Supports net-zero commitments and boosts GRESB scores
Tenant & investor appeal
Sustainability-focused tenants and capital providers value solar
Future-proofing
Solar (optionally paired with storage) can hedge against future carbon regulations and improve building resilience.
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Why Massachusetts property owners partner with Lumen Energy

Unlike solar developers, Lumen works exclusively for property owners, sitting on your side of the table and ensuring your returns—not the developer’s—come first. Our team brings deep Massachusetts market expertise, with a clear understanding of state regulations, utility programs, and community solar compliance.

We provide fast, portfolio-scale analysis, helping you evaluate dozens of properties at once and uncover the best solar opportunities. Through our network of vetted developers, you gain access to competitive bids that maximize rooftop value. We also offer legal and regulatory support, making it simple to navigate MA solar policies with confidence.

With a local focus across Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and beyond, Lumen Energy ensures you capture every incentive and opportunity available in Massachusetts’ solar market.

Rows of panels on a warehouse roof beside I-495, part of a SMART-certified LMI community-solar project that delivers discounted clean energy to low- and moderate-income households across Massachusetts.

"Lumen Energy guided us through the new Community Solar program. Our Edison warehouse now generates $50,000 annually while powering local families."

Michael R
Industrial property owner, NJ

"Lumen made the leasing process seamless."

Sarah T
CRE Manager, NJ

"With Lumen’s platform, we quickly assessed multiple rooftops across New Jersey. Solar leasing is now a key revenue driver."

David L
Portfolio Manager, NJ

“Lumen Energy simplified the Massachusetts rooftop leasing process and got us the most competitive bids from their network of developers. Their bidding process revealed that the highest bid was 12x the smallest bid.”

Christina King, AM Nuveen

Massachusetts solar incentives for commercial property

Below are some of the incentives developers use as part of financing the project.

Incentive
Value
Source
SMART Program
Statewide incentive program offering up to $.28/kwh, with adders for certain offtaker commitments and loca
SMART 3.0 program details
Federal ITC – Sec. 48
30% tax credit on eligible project costs
IRS
Accelerated depreciation – MACRS
Accelerated cost recovery
IRS
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How it works

Start with a free property assessment using satellite imagery to analyze the the solar potential of your roofs. Get a custom financial analysis with projections for revenue growth, property value increases, and tenant savings. We then put your building to bid so you receive competitive offers from pre-vetted rooftop solar developers in MA. Our experts offer lease negotiation advising to secure optimal terms under MA community solar rules. Enjoy worry-free installation and ongoing management—developers handle the work while you collect steady revenue.

Infographic-style graphic for community solar roof top installation in New Jersey

Serving properties across Massachusetts

Major markets

Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Brockton, Lowell, Lawrence, New Bedford, Fall River

Industrial corridors and hubs

I‑93 and Route 128 tech and logistics, I‑90 Mass Pike distribution, I‑495 beltway industrial

Utilities covered

Eversource, National Grid, Unitil
Not sure if your rooftop qualifies? Contact us for a free evaluation.
Northeast corridor map highlighting Eversource and National Grid service zones across Massachusetts, pinpointing optimal zones for SMART community-solar expansion from Boston to I-495 and Route 128.

FAQ

What is Massachusetts’ community solar program?
Massachusetts enables community solar through its SMART tariff and statewide net metering, supporting front‑of‑meter “Community Shared Solar” projects (generally up to multi‑MW scale) with incentive adders for community solar and low‑income participants.
What is the difference between rooftop leasing and community solar?
Rooftop leasing is the means by which community solar developers secure space to generate power. Developers rent roof space from property owners to install solar panels, creating the energy supply that serves community solar subscribers.
How much can I earn?
Lease revenue depends on roof size, interconnection costs, utility territory, and market demand. Lumen benchmarks expected lease rates for each property and then puts the property to competitive bid across our pre-vetted network of experienced solar developers. Enter your address here to see how much money your property could make.
Do tenants need to be involved?
Not directly. Developers manage the systems; tenants may receive energy credits as a bonus.
What are eligibility requirements?
Large, structurally suitable, low-shade roofs near available interconnection capacity under MA utilities are ideal. Industrial, logistics, and big-box retail assets are common hosts.
How does new legislation help?
Expanded community solar capacity, faster interconnections, and more eligible properties mean higher potential returns.
What if I sell my property?
Leases are transferable and often increase property resale value.

Now is the time to capitalize on Massachusetts’ solar commitment

With the creation of the permanent community solar program and rising demand for clean energy, your rooftop can become a major revenue driver. Join other MA property owners already earning six figures annually from solar leasing. To get in touch with our MA team, email massachusetts@getlumen.com

Get a free rooftop evaluation
Maryland warehouse rooftop community-solar array—5 MW system installed under BGE & Pepco programs—showing commercial property owners how PSC Maryland community-solar leasing turns unused roof space into low-to-moderate-income clean-energy credits.