You're right to stay away from the door knocking salespeople. For anything these days! The time to go solar is good but there could be future incentives coming for MA. To search for clean energy incentives by ZIP use dsireusa.org and here is a helpful infographic breaking down the solar tax credit which is part of the inflation reduction act:

https://imgur.com/SDWWU5t

Probably the biggest thing to watch out for is getting locked into a solar lease. If possible buy your solar PV equipment outright. Solar leases come with penalties for early termination. I work in the solar industry, in the training sector and write to a global audience on everything solar PV. It would be a conflict of interest to recommend specific companies. It's best to gather 3-5 quotes from large to small solar companies for the best balance of customer service and cost. Energysage is trusted by many Redditors to compare solar quotes by location, get $25 off by clicking this link. For another option in gathering solar quotes, EnergyPal helps to leave the final decision of the solar company selected, totally in your hands. Get a $500 gift card from them by using the link mentioned. Always ask these questions of any solar installer when gathering your quotes :

Are you approved, licensed and insured to operate in my state/county/city?

Ask for their license and policy number and verify that it’s in good standing with the appropriate licensing board and insurance providers.

Is my roof a good fit for a solar PV array?

Realistically, most solar panels can be arranged to capture the greatest amount of energy with adjustable racking technology and other assessment tools. In the end, some homes will have better solar coverage of their roof over others. Using a tool like Project Sunroof can help you assess on your own and without a salesperson. If your roof is covered in shade by large trees or a nearby building, north facing or in poor condition it may be not suitable for solar installation. Installing a new roof and solar system at the same time can be a cost effective way to combat climate change and lower your carbon footprint.

What happens if I want to sell my property or move out?

Look for specifics in your contract and ask for them to be explicitly noted. If there are any penalties or fees you’ll see them here. Another important point is the ability to move out of the property and rent it to tenants. In this case, the options should be stated as applicable. Perhaps you wish to have your tenant pay the electric bill but you wish to continue with the financing payments for the PV system. Learn all of these details up front and from the contract’s top to bottom.

Do you use contractors to install the equipment?

Using a third party contractor can bring opportunity for uncertified or unlicensed/uninsured workers on your property.

What type of warranty does the system and install come with?

Warranties and guarantees can vary greatly. They can exclude certain components and not provide a point of contact should something go wrong. Get as many details in writing as possible before signing a contract.

What is your estimated timeline for project completion?

Timelines can vary greatly and can influence total cost. Watch out for the estimated timeline and that it works with your schedule.

Can you provide the total cost of the system to me in digital or paper format?

If you are looking to finance or lease your system ask about any required down payment and how much monthly payments will be. Any state/federal/provincial tax credits/benefits should also be detailed here. We strongly advise readers to own their equipment outright to avoid any additional hidden costs or penalties/fees should they want to exit the contract or sell their property.

https://ecotechtraining.com/blog/how-to-find-a-solar-installer/

There is also more information on finding the best solar installer in the link mentioned.

I used Smart Green Solar and while everyone I worked with was kind (they didn't have a high-pressure sales pitch at all), it was clear that they prioritize sales of new systems over actually fulfilling and completing existing orders (it's been kind of a nightmare getting everything up and running - everything seemed very disorganized and everyone in the call centers is clearly overworked). Beacon Solar did the actual installation on Smart Green's behalf and they were great, though. It might be worth contacting Beacon directly.

We used SunBug to have roof panels installed a number of years ago. They were recommended by some friends and were great.

We haven't paid an electric bill since and actually just received a Christmas card from them. Highly recommended.

They came out to take some measurements, look at our attic, review past electric bills and then discuss panel options and costs. They were very relaxed and helpful.

The install took 2 days and included a few posts to add support to the roof. The cost was around 15k.

We were able to take advantage of a federal credit, state credit and were able to get in on the Solar Renewable Energy Credit so each quarter we can sell a megawatt to an aggregator and get paid a few hundred dollars. This is in addition to the credit we've amassed due to producing more than we use, net metering is amazing.

Interest rates for solar loans were capped around 3% at the time but we were able to get 1.5% by calling a few banks.

Are you in Worcester? Are you talking rooftop solar? Because ground mounts aren’t allowed in the city.

We met with evergreen solar and likely plan to go forward with them sometime this year. I have friends who had a good experience with sun run.

Mass Save is state-sponsored and will connect you with a vetted solar provider.

Critical Mass Solar. They are local owned and the owner is heavily involved in the process. Just finished a very large system for our house and they did great work. Give Freddy a call.