Winter 2026 Newsletter
February 2026
VINEYARD POWER WINTER NEWSLETTER
Dear Reader,
We hope your 2026 is off to a good start! If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to learn more about the Energy Transition and ways to decarbonize your lifestyle, it’s not too late to start! Keep reading for more information on energy savings offers and lucrative programs available to homeowners and renters of Martha’s Vineyard, and to hear about how the Vineyard Power team wrapped up 2025 and is ringing in the New Year.
Updates
Mass Save in 2026 and Beyond
This year, Vineyard Power is continuing to participate in the Mass Save Community First Partnership, sponsored by Cape Light Compact, to increase participation in energy efficiency programs amongst residents of Martha’s Vineyard.
The new year is ushering in some notable changes to the Mass Save Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization Plan. The biggest of these updates are in regards to rebates on heat pump systems. Below is the new rebate structure for 2026:
Whole-Home Air Source Heat Pump Rebates are being limited to $2,650 per ton of heating load up to $8,500
Partial-Home Air Source Heat Pump Rebates are being limited to $1,125 per ton of heating load up to $8,500
Whole-Home Ground Source Heat Pump Rebates are being limited to $13,500 per system
Beginning in 2026, Mass Save rebates for heat pump systems are set to decrease slightly each year going forward. For those looking to save as much as possible on a new heat pump, this means NOW is the best time to act!
To access Mass Save rebates, Vineyard Power can help you get signed up with Cape Light Compact to receive a no-cost home energy assessment. After your assessment, your assessor will provide a report detailing any recommended steps and upgrades they suggest you make to improve the building’s energy efficiency and performance. This report then becomes your key to unlocking Mass Save rebates on insulation, heat pumps, heat pump water heaters and more!
Sign up for YOUR no-cost home energy assessment on Cape Light Compact's Martha's Vineyard Customers page, or give us a call at 508-693-3002 to request to schedule an assessment!
HEAP / Fuel Assistance
It’s around this time of year that many Islanders feel the crunch of high energy prices associated with winter heating costs. To help support rate payers, South Shore Community Action Council is offering financial assistance to income-eligible residents through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). The program began on November 1st, 2025 and will run through April 30th, 2026, and provides need-based funding to assist residents with winter heating costs. Eligibility is determined by the gross income of all family members, as well as family size and energy burden. Savings vary based on these criteria.
If you are interested in learning more about this program, visit the SSCAC Home Energy Assistance page for more details, to check your eligibility, and submit your application. If you would like help applying for HEAP, Vineyard Power offers no-cost Income-Eligible coaching sessions. You’ll have the opportunity to sit down with a member of our team either in-person or via video call, during which we can walk you through the application process step-by-step and provide a checklist of required documents for the application.
In addition to the Home Energy Assistance Program, Vineyard Power promotes several other income-eligible programs to help lower qualifying customer’s energy bills. These include energy efficiency programming through Mass Save, the Eversource Income Eligible Discount Rate, Joe-4-Sun RAP community solar, the Cape Light Compact Power Supply, and the Vineyard Power Income Eligible Direct Subsidy Initiative. In combination, these programs can help lower customer’s bills by approximately 80%! You can learn more about all of these income-based programs on Vineyard Power’s Income-Eligible Programming page.
Want to book a session with an energy coach to see which programs you might qualify for? Get in touch with the Vineyard Power team at 508-693-3002 or enroll on our website’s Energy Coaching page today!
Grace Church Community Suppers
Nothing is better than a home-cooked meal - except for maybe a home-cooked meal paired with information on ways that you can save on energy costs and improve your home’s energy efficiency! Vineyard Power is attending Grace Episcopal Church’s Community Suppers once a month this winter to deliver information on cost-saving opportunities and programs that can help you upgrade and improve your home’s energy profile.
We attended the community supper on January 9th last month, and will be at the upcoming February 13th and March 20th events as well. Community suppers are held every Friday during the winter at Grace Episcopal church on Woodlawn Ave in Vineyard Haven, with meal pick-up available from 5:00-5:30pm and dine-in meals available from 5:30-6:30pm. We hope to see you there!
If you’re interested in attending an upcoming community supper, call Grace Church at 508-693-0332 between Tuesday and Thursday to reserve your pick-up or dine-in meal!
Education Programming
The Vineyard Power team had a blast leading an offshore wind education program at the Oak Bluffs School across two days in January. After completing a lesson focused on climate change, renewable energy, and the ins and outs of offshore wind projects, the 5th graders competed in an engineering challenge which saw them go head-to-head with their classmates to build their own model wind turbines. Teams took turns placing their turbines in front of a box fan and, using a pulley attached to the turbine, determined which team’s turbine was able to lift the most weight - or generate the most energy - using just the power of the fan. And as always, our virtual reality headsets, which put students into the shoes of a wind technician working on an offshore turbine, were a big hit with the students!
If you are an educator on MV who is interested in incorporating exciting renewable energy lessons into your learning space, reach out to hollis@vineyardpower.org to arrange a program or read more on our Education page!
Internship Opportunity with Vineyard Power
Are you, or is someone you know, a college-aged student from or attending a school in Massachusetts that is interested in a career in renewable energy? Good news! Vineyard Power is looking to fill two internship positions through our partnership with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to add to our team this summer!
This position offers a uniquely multifaceted overview of all things energy on Martha’s Vineyard, including home energy efficiency, renewable technologies such as solar and wind, electric vehicles, and much more. You’ll participate in community outreach, education programming, and make meaningful connections with the myriad organizations and individuals that are working hard to help Martha’s Vineyard reach its goal of being 100% renewable by 2040.
Applications are set to open in April and can be submitted through the online portal on the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center website. The position is paid, and spans 10-12 weeks from June to August. You can read what past interns have had to say about their experience working at Vineyard Power in our Intern Testimonials section.
Last Chance to Claim Federal Tax Credits
While the close of 2025 saw the elimination of several renewable energy related federal tax credits, it’s not too late to still take advantage of some! The 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit remains available in the first half of 2026 and can be used to claim a credit of 30% up to $1,000 on alternative fuel vehicle charging property placed into service prior to June 30th, 2026.
Massachusetts residents can also benefit from Eversource’s Electric Vehicle Home Charging Rebate Program. While Eversource does not provide direct rebates on private charging property, they do offer rebates ranging from $700 to $2,700 to offset the cost of the wiring or panel upgrade needed to install a 240-volt outlet for a Level 2 charger in the home.
And if you’re looking to purchase an electric vehicle, Massachusetts residents can utilize the state’s MOR-EV program. MOR-EV provides rebates ranging from $3,500 to $6,000 to customers who purchase qualifying electric cars and up to $10,000 for qualifying electric trucks. Rebates amounts are dictated by the type of vehicle, customer income status, and if the customer is trading in a qualifying non-electric vehicle. Visit the MOR-EV website for more information and program details.
Switching gears, there is also still an opportunity for commercial (i.e. non-residential) solar and battery projects to utilize the 48E Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit to claim a rebate of up to 30% of the cost of solar PV and battery storage projects that are placed into service before the end of 2027. Bonus adders may increase this credit to as high as 70% of the cost of the project if all criteria are met.
Projects that achieve “safe harbor” status by July 4th, 2026 have until December 31st, 2029 to be placed into service. Projects can achieve safe harbor status by paying or incurring 5% or more of the total cost of the facility and thereafter making continuous efforts to advance toward completion of the facility.
If you are interested in learning more about these tax credits before they disappear, get in touch with Vineyard Power at 508-693-3002 today.
Upcoming Events
West Tisbury Library Tabling Event
February 12th from 4:00pm-5:30pm
Grace Church Community Supper
February 13th from 5:00pm-6:30pm
Edgartown Library Tabling Event
February 18th from 4:00pm-5:00pm
What we’re keeping an eye on…
BOSTON (Mass.gov) — The Healey-Driscoll Administration has joined the state’s two largest electric utilities – Eversource and National Grid – in announcing Power Forward, a new initiative to get housing connected to the electric grid faster. Power Forward will support municipalities in evaluating electric grid capacity in areas that are primed for development with the goal of bringing more housing online as quickly, efficiently and affordably as possible.
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll announced Power Forward at Connect 351, Massachusetts Municipal Association’s annual conference on Saturday. Power Forward is one of several collaborative efforts between state agencies, local officials, utilities, and developers to meet the state’s urgent housing needs.
MASSACHUSETTS (Reuters.com) — A federal judge allowed Vineyard Wind to resume work on its Massachusetts offshore wind project Vineyard Wind 1, which President Donald Trump's administration halted along with four other projects last month due to national security concerns. Now after the decision to reverse the stop work order on Vineyard Wind, all 5 projects have resumed operations. The Vineyard Wind 1 project is expected to reach completion in 2026, and will provide over 800 megawatts of electricity to the ISO New England grid.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy in Boston, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, is the latest of several recent legal setbacks for Trump's anti-offshore wind policy.
NEW ENGLAND (wbur.org) — After years of delays, a major new power line delivering climate-friendly electricity to Massachusetts is finally up and running.
The long-awaited New England Clean Energy Connect is a 145 mile high-voltage transmission line that carries power generated by hydroelectric facilities in Quebec to the commonwealth. With a capacity of 1,200 megawatts, the line can transmit enough power to satisfy about 20% of Massachusetts' total electricity needs. And thanks to a 20-year fixed price contract with the state's electric utilities, it's projected to save ratepayers $50 million a year.
Vineyard Power is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization capable of receiving charitable donations. We rely on support from folks like you to advance renewable energy, energy efficiency, and equity in our island community. Please consider making a fully tax-deductible donation today!
Sincerely,
The Vineyard Power Team
vineyardpower.org | 508-693-3002 | info@vineyardpower.org
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