The new “big beautiful” laws in this country will slow our progress on climate change and increase the consequences. For electric cars, the law changes the amount of time we have for incentives, which are currently 30%. After September that program will end so this is a last chance to buy an electric car with the incentive. Many of the electric car dealers have direct pay. That means that you will be able to sign a document at the time of purchase and, if the car is qualified, you will get $7,500 off the price of the car. You will get your money, even if the law is changed yet again.
The time remaining for residential rooftop Solar PV with or without battery backup systems will take is a bit longer. They will stop at the end of this year. The current rebate is 30% of the cost for a system. It has to be put into service by Dec. 31. There are also some installers who do direct pay. Of course there is a rush to do this so if you find a company that is not booked up, get the contract in writing!
The incentive for heat pumps is a bit more tricky in South Hadley. The federal incentive (30%) ends at the end of this year. Two Massachusetts incentives will continue. If you have gas from Eversource you can take advantage of the MassSave incentive. That is a bit complicated but very lucrative. If you do not have natural gas you can take advantage of a South Hadley Electric Light Department incentive.
John T. Howard
South Hadley