A new model pairing institutional solar with community benefit, developed with Vineyard Power, PowerOptions Connect, and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
Key Takeaways
- A 138-kW rooftop solar array at Martha's Vineyard Hospital's workforce housing, paired with a grant from Vineyard Power, is expected to deliver more than half a million dollars in electricity bill assistance to income-qualified Island households over the next 25 years.
- This is the first completed project under PowerOptions Connect's SolarShare program, a new program in which one-time grants and philanthropic capital turn institutional solar projects into a 25-year stream of community benefit while still delivering on-site energy savings to the host.
- Vineyard Power’s Resiliency and Affordability Program Advisory Committee will guide the distribution of benefits.
OAKBLUFFS, MA, June 30, 2026 – Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, a member of the Mass General Brigham system, today announced that its workforce housing solar project, located in Edgartown, Massachusetts will serve as the foundation for a community-led benefits program designed to deliver long-term energy relief for eligible Island households. Developed in partnership with PowerOptions Connect’s SolarShare program, Vineyard Power, and supported in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s EmPower Massachusetts grant program, the project is expected to unlock approximately $550,000 in electricity bill assistance for eligible Vineyard households over the next 25 years.
The 138-kW rooftop solar array, installed as part of MVH’s workforce housing development, was structured through the SolarShare program to deliver both on-site energy savings and broader public benefit. Rather than retaining all economic value on site, the MVH project allocates 50% of long-term financial benefits to Island households with high energy burdens.
“This project reflects our commitment to both our staff and our community,” said Michael Cosgrave, Chief Administrative Officer at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. “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.”
A grant from Vineyard Power through its Resiliency and Affordability Program, an initiative launched from Vineyard Power’s Community Benefits Agreement with Vineyard Wind, funded the community-benefit framework. Benefits go to income-qualified households,which Vineyard Power identifies through its existing RAP programs including enrolling residents in utility discount rates and low-income community shared solar projects. The Vineyard Power Resiliency and Affordability Program Advisory Committee, comprising representatives from all six Island towns, Dukes County, and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) will guide the distribution of benefits over the life of the project.
“The Resiliency and Affordability Program is a community benefit secured from Vineyard Wind that was designed to enable local renewable energy generation, increase resilience, and advance energy affordability through local initiatives that deliver tangible benefits to the community,” said Richard Andre, President at Vineyard Power. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with MGB and PO Connect to leverage RAP funding, with guidance from our Advisory Committee, to deliver roughly $550,000 to support income-eligible households on Martha’s Vineyard.”
The MVH workforce housing project is the first completed project under PO Connect’s SolarShare program, which expands PowerOptions’ established solar procurement model by adding incentives, grants, and philanthropic support to create community-directed benefit structures. SolarShare collaborates with local partners to manage benefit administration, making participation straightforward for site hosts. This approach allows nonprofit and public entities to develop on-site renewable energy generation while directing a portion of project value to local households facing high energy burdens.
“SolarShare creates a way for mission-driven organizations to use solar projects to support the people they serve, while giving donors a chance to fund work with measurable local impact,” said Dan Lesser, Senior Program Manager at PO Connect. “By connecting hosts like MVH with funders and partners such as Vineyard Power, we build projects that increase the impact of donor dollars and deliver lasting local benefits.”
About Martha’s Vineyard Hospital / Mass General Brigham
Martha’s Vineyard Hospital is a member of the Mass General Brigham system, a not-for-profit integrated health care system that delivers a full continuum of care through academic medical centers, community and specialty hospitals, health centers, and other services. Mass General Brigham is committed to improving health in the communities it serves while advancing medical research, innovation, and education. For more information visit www.mvhospital.org.
About Vineyard Power and the Resiliency and Affordability Program
Vineyard Power is a 501(c)(3) renewable energy and energy efficiency nonprofit working to advance an equitable renewable energy transition for Martha’s Vineyard. The Resiliency and Affordability Program, funded by Vineyard Wind and managed by VineyardPower on Martha’s Vineyard, aims to increase resiliency at critical facilities and provide benefits to income-eligible ratepayers in communities neighboring the Vineyard Wind project. To learn more visit www.vineyardpower.org.
About PowerOptions Connect and SolarShare
PowerOptions Connect is a clean energy 501(c) 3 nonprofit working to ensure that under-resourced communities are included in the clean energy transition, helping New England nonprofits and public entities build projects that benefit the communities they serve. SolarShare is a PO Connect program that brings donor and philanthropic funding to lower project costs for host organizations while directing a share of solar project value to households facing high energy burdens. For more information visit www.poconnect.org.
About the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
The Mass Clean Energy Center is the state's clean energy and climatetech economic development agency. The agency's EmPower Massachusetts Program funds community clean energy and energy equity projects across the state. For more information visit www.masscec.com.
Media Contacts:
PowerOptions Connect:
Joyce McMahon
Martha’s Vineyard Hospital/ Mass General Brigham:
Noah Brown
Senior Director, Enterprise Communications & Global Strategy
Vineyard Power:
Richard Andre
