Summary

Martha's Vineyard Hospital (MVH), part of the Mass General Brigham system, is hosting a workforce housing solar project designed to channel long-term financial benefits to income-eligible households on the Island. Developed through PowerOptions Connect's SolarShare program, the project was made possible with support from Vineyard Power and a grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s (MassCEC) EmPower Massachusetts (EmPower) grant program. It is expected to deliver $550,000 in bill assistance directly to low-income Island households over 25 years, paid as a fixed $22,000 each year. Vineyard Power's Resiliency and Affordability Program (RAP) distributes those funds, with allocations decided by an advisory committee representing all six Island towns, Dukes County, and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah).

The model

SolarShare structures solar projects so a defined, trackable share of long-term benefits is set aside for community bill relief. At MVH, the host commits a fixed $22,000 per year, equal to half of the project's projected lifetime savings, to income-eligible households, with distribution guided by Vineyard Power's Resiliency and Affordability Program (RAP) Advisory Committee.

At a glance

  • Host site: MVH workforce housing (Mass General Brigham), Edgartown
  • System: 138 kW rooftop solar array
  • Status: Operating since June 2026. First annual payment due July 2027 and every July after.
  • Community benefit (projected): $550,000 in bill assistance over 25 years for income-eligible households on Martha's Vineyard
  • Benefit commitment: A fixed $22,000 per year for 25 years, equal to half of the project's projected lifetime savings, paid each year the array meets 70% of projected production
  • Community guidance: Vineyard Power RAP Advisory Committee

What made it feasible

Project economics were strengthened through:

  • a Vineyard Power RAP grant that covered the gap left by the loss of a federal tax credit, and
  • an EmPower grant from MassCEC that funded the design of the SolarShare model and supported its first implementation at MVH.

What this means for the Island

  • Income-eligible households on the Vineyard will receive direct bill assistance each year for 25 years, starting in 2027
  • A local community body, the RAP Advisory Committee, decides how benefits are distributed
"This project reflects our commitment to both our staff and our community. By integrating solar into our workforce housing and partnering with Vineyard Power and PO Connect, we can cut emissions while creating a new, locally guided resource for Island households that are struggling with high energy costs."

— Michael Cosgrave, Chief Administrative Officer, Martha's Vineyard Hospital

Want to bring a project like this to your community?

If you have a site: SolarShare partners with hospitals, schools, housing authorities, municipalities, and other mission-driven organizations to develop solar projects that direct a share of project value to income-eligible households. Contact us about hosting.

If you want to support this work: PowerOptions Connect is expanding SolarShare to bring long-term, community-directed energy benefits to more communities across the region. Learn about supporting PO Connect.

‍