Solar Energy Industry Gets Legislative Win in NY
The solar industry in New York state got a legislative win when Governor Andrew Cuomo approved several bills that give tax exemptions to solar projects in the state. Earlier this month the Governor announced $30 million in funding for 16 PV projects through an NY-Sun sub-program as well as $107 million in funding for customer-sited solar photovoltaic (PV) projects larger than 50 kW. The funding is being distributed over two years with $36.4 million available for 2012 and $70.5 million available in 2013 through the NY-Sun Competitive PV program.
“We applaud Governor Cuomo, as well as Senator George Maziarz and Assemblyman Cahill for their bipartisan work paving the way for solar to succeed in New York State,” said Carrie Cullen Hitt, Vice President for State Affairs at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). “By making it more affordable for businesses and homeowners to install solar systems, these laws are vital to helping New York realize its goal of 45 percent renewable-powered electricity by 2015. We look forward to continuing to work with state leaders so that New York can meet its total solar market potential in the near future.”
Three bills were signed: Bill A 34-B provides tax credits for solar energy system equipment; Bill A 10620 provides for the amount of tax abatement for solar generating systems in cities of one million or more; and Bill A 5522-B exempts the sale and installation of commercial solar energy systems from state sales and compensating use taxes and allows municipalities to grant these systems a tax exemption as well.
The state also has several other policies in place to promote solar investment. These include a feed-in tariff through Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), a New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) customer-sited tiered program, and rules for net metering that allows customers credit for excess power generated and sent back to the grid.
Nearly 7,500 solar photovoltaic (PV) solar installations have been completed in New York making the state 6th in number of PV systems. When combined, the systems have the capacity to produce 121 megawatts of energy or enough to power around 20,000 average sized homes.
2 Comments
Minwoo Kim
The World Goes Solar. Japan’s FiT in July is among the highest in the world. It’s clear that Japan’s FiT will shake the solar market. Now, US has the same options. New solutions will be showed in Japan. This is it!
As you know, earthquake in Japan is happening frequently. Floating solar panels installation is one of the best solutions for power crisis in Japan. So you have to reduce vibration to install Floating solar panels. Because, it makes many kinds of problems! Vibrations caused by wind, waves and external forces. New Floating Body Stabilizer for Floating solar panels installation has been created in South Korea. The Floating Body Stabilizers generate drag force immediately when Floating solar panels are being rolled and pitched on the water. Recently, these Floating Body Stabilizers have been used to reduce vibration of Floating Solar Panels in South Korea. You can see New Floating Body Stabilizer videos in YouTube. http://youtu.be/O2oys_YHhCc, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA_xFp5ktbU&feature=youtu.be.
Jonathan Goodson
As amazing as it sounds, I am told that Florida, yes, Florida, has no official state program or policy on solar energy.
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