Solar in New York
Key Solar Metrics
26.4¢/kWh
4.8 peak sun hours
904 kWh/kW
Value of Solar
6 active programs
New York State Solar Energy System Equipment Tax Credit
Mixed
Major Utilities
Solar Landscape in New York
New York's electricity market includes both investor-owned utilities and cooperative/municipal providers. Utility-specific solar programs vary by provider. Residential customers should check with their specific utility provider for available solar incentive programs, interconnection requirements, and export credit rates.
Permitting
New York follows local jurisdiction permitting for residential solar installations. Permitting requirements and timelines vary by county and municipality. Homeowners should contact their local building department for specific permit requirements, fees, and inspection schedules. Some jurisdictions in New York have adopted streamlined solar permitting processes to reduce installation timelines.
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Solar Incentives & Rebates
Some incentive data is provisional and subject to verification. Programs may change — check official sources before making decisions.
State Programs
New York State Solar Energy System Equipment Tax Credit
25% of solar installation costs, up to $5,000. One of the most generous state solar tax credits in the US.
NY-Sun Residential Incentive
NY-Sun megawatt block incentive of approximately $0.20/W for residential systems (varies by utility territory and block availability). Administered by NYSERDA.
New York Sales Tax Exemption for Solar
Solar energy system equipment is exempt from the 4% New York State sales tax. Some localities also exempt from local sales tax.
New York Property Tax Exemption for Solar
15-year real property tax exemption on the value added by solar, wind, and farm waste energy systems under RPTL Section 487.
Value of Distributed Energy Resources (VDER)
VDER replaced traditional net metering. Compensation based on multiple value stacks: energy, capacity, environmental, demand reduction, and location. Rates vary by utility and time.
New York Solar Access Rights
New York Real Property Law Section 335-b protects solar access through easements. Condominium and HOA restrictions on solar are limited.
New York VDER (Value of Distributed Energy Resources)
- Policy Type
- Value of Solar
- Credit Type
- Time of Use
- System Size Cap
- 750 kW
- Annual Credit Rollover
- Yes
- Effective Date
- January 1, 2020
Run the Numbers for New York
Solar in New York costs $2.77–$3.83 per watt
National average: $3.36/W
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