Top 10 States for off-gridding

Grants pay half the cost

Massachusetts is one of 10 states in the nation with specific financial incentives and regulatory policies for solar panel installation.

the full list is California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.

There is a state-by-state guide to all the energy grants available including efficiency grants and assistance with insulation.

Massachusetts, with a daily average of 4.6 hours of peak sunlight, for example, has its new Commonwealth Solar program, administered by the Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s Renewable Energy Trust, offering commercial rebates of 30 to 50 percent and residential rebates of 20 to 60 percent against non-competitive installations of photovoltaic projects.

Pennsylvania makes the cut, not so much for installed capacity, but for expanding renewable energy jobs.

In November 2004, when Pennsylvania passed its Advanced Energy Portfolio Standard, it was one of only five other states at the time that required a specific amount of its energy to come from the sun. Although a seemingly modest goal � half a percent by 2019 � Pennsylvania�s initiative was still the third largest of any state (after the sun-drenched states of Nevada and Colorado). Overall, Pennsylvania set a goal to meet 18 percent of its electricity requirements from renewable energy sources by 2021.

In 2006, the state doubled its purchase of electricity from renewable energy sources to from 10 to 20 percent. By purchasing 200,000 megawatts of green energy to fuel the state government (20 percent of its needs), Governor Edward Rendell explained that Pennsylvania not only helps to keep electricity rates down, but also significantly boosts jobs with in the RE industry.

Though solar energy systems alone are not responsible for Pennsylvania�s commitment to grow �green jobs� (wind, hydro, and � controversially � waste coal are included in the state�s portfolio as appropriate energy alternatives), the state has made steady progress toward increasing viable alternative energy projects throughout the state. Since 2003, Pennsylvania initiatives have helped create 3,000 green jobs.