Boston Home Center Launches New Solar Loan Pilot Program for Homeowners

0% deferred-interest loan helps Boston residents lower energy costs and invest in clean energy

The Boston Home Center (BHC), a division of the Mayor's Office of Housing (MOH), today announced the launch of the Boston Home Center Solar Loan Pilot Program, a new pilot program designed to help low- and moderate-income homeowners reduce energy costs through rooftop solar installation. The program offers eligible homeowners up to $25,000 in 0% deferred-interest financing to install rooftop solar systems and complete related project work on owner-occupied one- to four-unit homes in Boston.

The new Solar Loan Program expands the Boston Home Center's efforts to help residents remain safely and affordably housed while reducing the financial burden of rising utility costs and supporting building electrification. The loan may be pursued independently or paired with existing BHC financing to support roof repairs or replacements needed before solar installation. Loans are forgiven after 20 years of continuous owner-occupancy and are otherwise due upon sale, refinance, or transfer of the property.

"Too many Boston residents are forced to make impossible choices between paying for heat, electricity, or keeping up with their mortgage," said Dan Lesser, Chief of Staff for the Mayor's Office of Housing. "This program gives homeowners a new tool to lower their energy costs and access a stable, low-cost, and carbon-free source of electricity. By investing in rooftop solar, we are helping families build resilience, reduce utility expenses, and benefit directly from the clean energy transition."

The program was shaped in part by conversations with residents seeking housing assistance through the Boston Home Center. In April 2026, a 61-year-old homeowner visiting the Boston Home Center for a home repair consultation shared that she had struggled during the winter to balance mortgage payments and utility bills while also managing significant deferred maintenance in her home. City housing officials say stories like hers reflect broader challenges facing many Boston households experiencing high energy costs, particularly in neighborhoods including Dorchester, Hyde Park, Roxbury, Mattapan, and East Boston.

Under the Solar Loan Pilot Program, eligible homeowners may receive financing for rooftop solar photovoltaic systems and associated project costs. A standard system funded through a $25,000 solar loan can fully fund an approximately 7-kilowatt rooftop solar installation capable of generating an estimated 8,470 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.

The Solar Loan Program is available to owner-occupied homes located in Boston. Applications and eligibility information are available through the Boston Home Center. To participate in the program, properties must have a roof less than five years old or pass an inspection if the roof is between five and 15 years old. Homeowners who need roof repairs or replacement may combine the Solar Loan with additional BHC financing.

On July 9 from 6-7 pm, the City of Boston will host an informational workshop covering how rooftop solar works, its cost-saving benefits, and available resources like the new 0% Solar Loan Pilot Program, Boston Energy Saver, and Boston Choice Community Electricity. The session will guide residents through the entire adoption process- from assessment to permitting. Residents interested in learning how to lower their electricity bills should register here: Solar Energy for Boston Homeowners.

Last month, Mayor Michelle Wu announced the release of Boston's 2030 Climate Action Plan, a roadmap for how the City will achieve its carbon emissions reduction and climate resilience goals. These targets include reducing community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. The Plan includes 22 metrics that the City will track over the next five years through its Climate Action Plan Implementation Dashboard. The Boston Home Center Solar Loan Program advances these goals by helping low- and moderate-income homeowners adopt clean energy technologies, lower household energy costs, and reduce reliance on fossil fuel-generated electricity. In the Plan's creation, the City of Boston prioritized community engagement in its environmental justice communities and will implement strategies to ensure that every neighborhood receives the public health, economic, and resilience benefits of climate action.

Under Mayor Michelle Wu's leadership, Boston has made historic progress toward creating and preserving homes that residents can afford. Since the start of her first term, the City has produced or begun construction on more than 18,000 new homes, including thousands of income-restricted units, and has launched new policies to make it easier, faster, and less expensive to build housing across every neighborhood. Mayor Wu has directed record levels of investment to prevent displacement, expand affordable homeownership, and support renters and homeowners who face housing instability.

Through innovative programs like the Housing Accelerator Fund, Welcome Home Boston, and the Housing with Public Assets initiative, the City is finding new ways to create housing on public land, convert vacant buildings into homes, and support residents in building wealth and stability. The Mayor's focus on climate and health has also made Boston a national leader in green and energy-efficient housing. Together, these efforts are helping to make Boston a city where every resident can have a safe, stable, and affordable home, and where communities can grow stronger for generations to come.

• Published by: Housing