How Does the NY State Community Solar Program Work?
New York State is a pioneer in community solar programs that make the benefits of renewable energy more accessible to consumers and small businesses.
On-site residential solar power systems have numerous advantages over community solar projects…
However, not everyone can afford the upfront purchase and installation costs of a photovoltaic system.
Additionally, many New Yorkers live in apartments or multi-family buildings that aren’t suitable for rooftop or ground solar power installations.
If you’re interested in learning more about community solar for your home or small business, you’ve come to the right place.
Let’s dig in.
What Is the NY State Community Solar Program?
New York State’s NY-Sun program aims to make solar power more accessible to homes and businesses through community solar programs and on-site installation incentives.
Community solar makes it possible for renters, homeowners, businesses, and multifamily buildings to enjoy the benefits of solar energy without installing rooftop or ground-mounted solar panel systems at their locations.
Instead, a multipanel PV module array or solar farm is installed off-site.
Residential and commercial electricity customers subscribe to the relevant community solar program and share in the financial benefits of the clean, renewable energy the system supplies to the utility grid.
Typically, subscribers receive credit against their electricity bills for a proportional share of the power the community solar project generates each month.
Participants are typically guaranteed that electricity credits will exceed subscription costs — resulting in ongoing savings and a reliable return on investment.
The terms and conditions of each program can vary significantly — and you may have multiple available options — more on that below.
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What About NY State’s On-Site Solar Incentives?
Homeowners who install residential solar panel systems in their primary or secondary homes in the US may be eligible for the 30% Federal Solar Tax Credit against the total purchase and installation costs.
If you pay federal income taxes and own a home, it’s likely that a whole home solar generator like EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra will qualify for the credit, potentially saving you thousands of dollars on your tax returns.
If your primary residence is in New York, you may be eligible for additional state incentives when purchasing a solar power system for your home.
The 25% New York State Solar Tax Credit can save you 25% of a qualified photovoltaic systems purchase and installation cost up to a maximum of $5000.
You can file the claim with your state tax return using Form IT-255 (Instructions here).
Under the on-site NY-Sun program, additional incentives include immediate credit against purchase and installation costs from participating contractors and access to low-interest loans and funding.
On-site PV installations with solar battery storage offer home energy security and more opportunities to save on electricity bills.
Many homeowners will start seeing a substantial return on investment in 5-10 years.
However, many New York residents rent their homes or lack the financial means to purchase a standalone system or a suitable installation area for solar panels.
Thanks to community solar, New Yorkers can still reduce their carbon footprints and save money on electricity bills.
Let’s dig into how it works.
How Does Community Solar Work in NY State?
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) oversees community solar programs in NY state.
Its stated mission includes:
Building an inclusive clean energy economy
Supporting clean energy jobs and New York State’s economic recovery
Accelerating the transition to a low-carbon future
Fostering healthy and resilient communities
Community solar programs lower the barrier to entry for consumers and businesses, allowing them to benefit from offsite solar panel installations without the upfront costs of installing a system.
The “fine print” of individual community solar programs varies significantly, but most follow a subscription model.
Electricity customers pay a monthly subscription fee to participate in the community solar program.
Each month, customers receive a credit against their bill that exceeds the subscription cost. Typically, the subscription and credit appear on your standard utility bill, though a few programs may issue them separately.
Community solar participants offset their energy costs while supporting NY’s transition to renewable energy sources for electricity generation. By reducing dependence on utility grid electricity — the majority of which is still generated by burning fossil fuels like coal — subscribers also reduce the carbon footprint of their household or business.
If you’re interested in investing more deeply in renewable power but on-site solar isn’t an option at your location, some programs allow the purchase of off-site solar panels — delivering a more substantial ROI over time.
Who Can Participate?
New York leads the US in community solar capacity, with over 1000 operational projects.
Unfortunately, it’s not available everywhere…
The first step is to check if a community solar program is available from a utility provider at your location.
NYSERDA offers an interactive map showing community solar programs by zip code and utility company, making it easy to see availability at your location.
There may be multiple programs at your location — or none at all.
Eligibility varies, but generally, if you’re a residential or small business customer of an electricity provider offering community solar in your area, you will likely meet the requirements.
Low-to-moderate-income households may have access to additional discounts and incentives.
Benefits of NY State’s Community Solar Program
If on-site solar isn’t an option, you can still participate in the green energy economy, reduce your energy bills, and help support New York’s transition to net-zero carbon emissions.
Here are the primary benefits of NY’s community solar programs.
Little to no upfront costs
Electric bill savings
Support clean energy generation in your community
Want to save even more on electricity bills?
Consider:
Increasing home energy efficiency. Home improvements and “residential energy property” purchases of high-wattage systems like HVAC heat pumps and water heaters can significantly reduce your bills. You may also be eligible for the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit to offset or cover your upfront costs.
Investing in an EcoFlow DELTA Series portable power station can help you avoid on-peak electricity rates and energy demand charges. EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 can provide whole-home battery backup during power outages. Even without solar panels, EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 and DELTA Pro Ultra meet the eligibility requirements for the 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit against total purchase and installation costs.
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How to Enroll in the NY State Community Solar Program
Here’s how to enroll in one of NY-Sun’s community solar programs step-by-step.
Visit NY-Sun’s community solar finder map.
Enter your zip code and current utility provider.
Depending on your location, you may have numerous programs available to you. Unfortunately, not all of New York state currently offers community solar. If no programs are available, check your utility provider’s website (e.g., Con Edison, National Grid, NYSEG) to see if any developments are planned. If not, you may be able to fill out a contact form or send an email to request more information. Also, try inputting only your zip code to see if other electricity providers in your area have suitable projects.
Once you’ve determined program eligibility, carefully evaluate the pros and cons of each project based on your goals. Benefits vary widely between community solar programs, even when they’re in relatively close proximity.
Once you select a program, follow the subscription process carefully. Because you’re not purchasing or installing solar panels yourself, the process is usually painless.
As soon as you start paying your subscription fees, make sure you’re being credited according to your utility contract. Don’t just assume your bills will be accurate. It’s easier to correct any discrepancies early on in your contract.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Downside of Community Solar?
The primary disadvantage of community solar over on-site installations is that your energy bill savings are limited, and you’re still entirely reliant on the utility grid. Community projects don’t supply electricity directly to your home. Instead, they offset energy costs by crediting your bill for a proportion of what the off-site solar system generates. Solar + storage systems can operate entirely off-grid or as a hybrid between utility and renewable energy, offering more savings opportunities and home backup during blackouts.
What Are the Rules for Community Solar in New York?
NYSERDA and the NY-Sun initiative oversee community solar programs in New York State. However, the rules and details of each project vary significantly by location and utility provider. Additionally, you may have multiple projects to choose from—or none at all—depending primarily on where you live. NY-Sun provides a free interactive online map that shows all the programs available at your location.
How Much Can You Save With Community Solar?
Most community solar projects in New York State guarantee that you will save more money in credits to your electricity bill than it costs to subscribe to the program. Your actual savings depends on numerous factors, such as your electricity consumption and usage patterns and the terms of the project you subscribe to. Most households can expect to save 5% to 10% annually on their electricity bills.
Final Thoughts
New York already has more community solar projects than any other state, and new programs are constantly being developed.
If installing a residential photovoltaic system at your home isn’t an option, you can still participate in the green energy revolution and save money on electricity bills.
However, even if you only have room for a few solar panels, investing in a solar generator like EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 can provide many additional benefits, such as a significantly higher return on investment and whole home backup during power outages.
EcoFlow offers a wide variety of solar power solutions to meet almost any need, from backpacking to running an entire house off-grid.
Check out our selection today!