Why Choose New England GreenStart?

With almost thirty years of experience in the Massachusetts energy marketplace, Mass Energy offers more than just green electricity. We serve as a strong advocate for consumers and the environment. As a non-profit, our goal, like yours, is to build a better world not just a better bottom line.

Here are some of the highlights of New England GreenStartSM:
Tax Deductability
Matching Funds
The Most Local Sources
Community Projects
Green Power Partnerships
Wind and Solar Content will Increase

Tax Deductibility

Through New England GreenStart, Mass Energy is participating in Clean Energy Choice, allowing you to make a worthy contribution towards the development of renewable energy generating sources. At least 57% of your payments for New England GreenStart are recognized as a tax-deductible charitable contribution to the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative ("MTC") for federal income tax purposes on behalf of the citizens of Massachusetts.1 More information can be found at www.cleanenergychoice.org.

Matching Funds

Through Mass Energy's participation in Clean Energy Choice, for every dollar you pay for New England GreenStart, the MTC will match it with up to two dollars in grants, including:

  1. Up to one dollar goes to your city or town for clean energy goods and services2, and
  2. Up to one additional dollar goes to fund clean energy projects that benefit the state's low-income residents.

The Most Local Sources

New England GreenStartSM is based on renewable energy resources all located right here in New England. Its has the highest New England-based New3 Renewable Content. 25% of the New England GreenStart 100%SM resource mix and 15% of New England GreenStart 50%SM resource mix come from new renewable energy resources based right here in New England. Supporting new resources is the best way to drive the development of future projects, an important step toward creating a cleaner energy mix. New England GreenStart 100%SM has a higher percentage of New England-based new renewable content than any other offering available to Massachusetts Electric customers.

Community Projects

New England GreenStartSM features several community-based resources including the wind turbine in the town of Hull and solar panels on rooftops throughout Massachusetts. It is local projects like these that your New England GreenStartSM payments help to support!

Green Power Partnerships

Working with an Advisory Committee of environmental partners, we are committed to increasing the amount of new wind and solar resources in New England GreenStartSM 100%. Learn more about our Green Power partnerships

Wind and Solar Content will Increase

While Mass Energy is excited to be offering New England GreenStartSM in its current form, we are committed to increasing the wind and solar content over time.  We have signed an agreement with the Princeton Municipal Light Plant for the purchase of wind power certificates from their proposed 3-megawatt project in Princeton, Massachusetts. Turbines are on order and should be running by the spring of 2009. The GreenStart portfolio already includes solar from over 500 installations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, with a total capacity of over 3 megawatts.

When you enroll in New England GreenStartSM you are doing more than choosing renewable electricity – you are helping to create a clean, reliable energy future for New England; supporting renewable energy markets and development and helping to clean up the air and water in our region.

  1. Payments for New England GreenStart are tax deductible for residential customers only.
  2. Cities or towns with a municipal light plant are not eligible for the community match.
  3. "New" resources are those which began operation on or after January 1, 1998. Massachusetts utilities must purchase 5% "new" renewables by 2010 to meet a state renewable energy mandate. Therefore, new renewables are in higher demand than older resources, and choosing renewable energy options with a high percentage of new renewables is the most effective way to spur development of additional renewable energy projects.