Summer 2025 Newsletter
AUGUST 2025
VINEYARD POWER SUMMER NEWSLETTER
Dear Reader,
Peak summer is here, and so is the heat! Ever get tired of swapping out those big window-mounted AC units? Read on to learn about ways to save BIG on energy efficiency upgrades - including a new heat pump system that can provide heating, cooling, and dehumidifying for your home! Keep reading to see how Vineyard Power has been making the most of summer on MV!
Updates
New Staff
This July, Noah Hamaoui joined the Vineyard Power team in the role of Program Analyst! Noah was born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil. She moved to the US in 2021 to attend Oberlin College, where she earned a BA in Environmental Studies, with a concentration in Urban Sustainability, and a minor in Theater. She is excited to combine her renewable energy knowledge with her Brazilian background and work with all kinds of islanders to help create a more sustainable community!
Community Outreach and Mass Save
Vineyard Power is participating in the Mass Save Community First Partnership, sponsored by Cape Light Compact, to increase participation in energy efficiency programs.
Keep an eye out for the Vineyard Power outreach table around MV this summer! Our team is always out in the community looking to help sign folks up for energy efficiency programming. Every electric ratepayer on Martha’s Vineyard has access to the Mass Save program, which provides no-cost home energy assessments and several lucrative rebates and incentives on energy efficiency upgrades for your home.
Be sure to take advantage of these great deals through Mass Save soon! Some rebates for heat pump systems will be decreasing after 2025. Future changes include:
Whole-Home Air Source Heat Pump Rebate decreasing from $3,000 per ton of heating load up to $10,000, to $2,700 per ton up to $9,000
Partial-Home Air Source Heat Pump Rebate decreasing from $1,250 per ton of heating load to $1,125 per ton
Whole-Home Ground Source Heat Pump Rebate decreasing from $15,000 per system to $13,500 per system
Unlock these rebates by signing up for a no-cost home energy assessment through Mass Save!
Big, Beautiful Bill Implications
The GOP Bill was recently signed into law on July 4th, and with it comes a slew of changes to the energy sector. Federal tax credits that were made available under the Inflation Reduction Act to help consumers purchase and install renewable energy property and equipment are being eliminated over the next few years. Major credits that are set to disappear include:
25C: Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit (expiring Dec. 31st 2025)
25D: Residential Clean Energy Credit (expiring Dec. 31st 2025)
30D: Clean Vehicle Tax Credit (expiring Sept. 30th, 2025)
Tax credits for commercial solar and wind projects (expiring in 2026-2028)
With that being said, it’s not too late to still take advantage of these tax credits in 2025!
Get in touch with Vineyard Power if you would like assistance in navigating the information around federal tax credits for renewable energy equipment and electric vehicles. You can click here to schedule an energy coaching session. If you've been considering upgrades, take advantage of these credits before they are gone!
ACE MV Clean Energy Program
As the push for clean energy continues on Martha’s Vineyard, the island will need a strong, green workforce to support the transition. In response, ACE MV is launching the Clean Energy Program! This four week seminar will provide an introduction to Clean Energy career pathways and the local and global shift to electrification. Starting Monday, October 20th, these 8 sessions will be led by local industry leaders and Island trades employers. Each session will look at different foundational skills and pathways, with a focus on local industries, and the steps to finding a successful career in the field. Learn directly from local employers and people currently working in the trades.
Seminar topics include: Foundations of Electricity, Renewable Energy (Solar & Wind), Building Performance, HVAC, Automotive, and Job Readiness Skills.
Interested applicants should pre-register using the QR code here.
This seminar is targeted towards young adults aged 18-30 and is free for eligible students. Email garrett@acemv.org for more information!
Main Streets Effort
Cape Light Compact is partnering with Vineyard Power, the Vineyard towns, and the MV Chamber of Commerce to launch its Main Streets Effort. This effort is aimed at helping local businesses get no-cost energy assessments and access energy efficiency programming through the Mass Save program. Program staff will be going door-to-door to enlist business to participate in towns across MV. The process starts with signing up for a home energy assessment, during which an energy specialist will determine how your business can improve its energy efficiency.
Following the assessment, incentives up to 100% cost coverage are available for recommended improvements including but not limited to:
Weatherization
Lighting
Refrigeration
Water-saving devices
And more!
Any businesses on Cape Cod or Martha’s Vineyard can sign up for a no-cost assessment at any time by calling 1-800-797-6699 or signing up online. Some restrictions may apply.
Save the Date!
Main Streets Efforts will run from September 15-19 in all 6 towns on Martha's Vineyard!
SparkMV 2025
Lace up your work boots and put on your hardhats - the 2nd annual SparkMV event is set for Saturday, October 11th, 2025 at the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society! This event, organized by TradesUp and the Martha’s Vineyard Builders Association, pairs local organizations with attendees who are interested in learning more about positions in the skilled trades on and around MV.
Organizations will be presenting exciting, hands-on activities around carpentry, woodworking, plumbing, HVAC, electrical work, masonry, and more for attendees of all ages! Whether it’s your first time picking up a hammer, or if you’ve been interested in pursuing a career in the trades, SparkMV is the place to be.
Check out the SparkMV website for more details! Attendance is free!
ACE MV Employer Survey
Hey employers of Martha’s Vineyard - ACE MV and Vineyard Power are looking for your feedback! We’re encouraging employers to take a 5-minute survey that will help inform workforce development programming and initiatives on the island. Scan the QR code to take the survey!
Education Programming:
Even though it’s still summer break for students, the team at Vineyard Power is delivering exciting learning opportunities for kids of all ages on Martha’s Vineyard all Summer long!
After a successful first session with the campers at the MV Boys & Girls Club Summer Camp, we are thrilled to announce the launch of a new renewable energy virtual reality lesson! In collaboration with Vinci VR, Vineyard Power is adding the Caterina Multiplayer Event to our repertoire of hands-on learning modules. This lesson sees 4 participants and an instructor enter a shared virtual space, where they are each tasked with managing an aspect of a city’s energy grid. With 5 minutes on the clock, students must work together to eliminate fossil fuel usage and keep the city running - and residents happy! - all while they implement renewable energy into the grid.
The Caterina Multiplayer Event is joining our lineup of renewable energy lessons - the 5th grade Kid Wind lesson, 7th grade Solar Car Race, and 11th grade Renewable Energy Career Pathways!
Think your group or class might be interested? Visit the education page on the Vineyard power website to view full lesson plans and reach out to hollis@vineyardpower.org to book a session!
Website Updates
Be sure to check out the newly updated Vineyard Power website! Our site is a hub for useful information on energy efficiency programming, cost-saving opportunities, energy coaching resources, and updates on the energy transition around MV.
Visit today to view our brand new Income Eligible Programing, Education, Resiliency and Affordability and History pages! And don't worry! - all of the content from the Vineyard Power site you know and love is still available.
Upcoming Events
West Tisbury Cronig’s Market Tabling
August 19th from 12:00pm-2:00pm
Energy Activities at the Ag Fair
August 22nd from 10:00am-12:30pm
Tisbury Senior Center Tabling
August 25th from 11:00am-1:00pm
What we’re keeping an eye on…
BOSTON (MassCEC.com) – The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) recently awarded over $52 million in grants to help upgrade public school facilities through the Green School Works program.
Funded through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the program aims to make K–12 public school buildings more energy-efficient, lower costs for school districts, reduce pollution, and create safer and healthier learning environments for students and educators.
MASSACHUSETTS (MIT.edu)-Researchers met at the MIT Energy Initiative’s annual symposium to explore the contrasting effects of AI on the renewable energy sector. As the AI industry continues to grow, experts debate the pros and cons of AI and what this development means for the renewable energy transition.
While AI computing centers demand an ever-increasing amount of energy to operate, panelists suggest that AI is also the key to optimizing renewable energy production and usage.
MASSACHUSETTS (EnergySage.com) – As federal tax credits relating to renewable energy are being repealed by the federal government, Massachusetts is making moves to strengthen its own solar sector with the launch of the updated SMART 3.0 Program. Like the past iterations of SMART, participants receive a fixed per-kilowatt-hour (kWh) payment for power generated by their solar arrays.
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