New Affordable Solar program doubles state incentives to further reduce costs of solar for income-eligible households

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced in November that it has increased access to solar for low- to moderate-income homeowners. The program, called Affordable Solar, supports Governor Cuomo’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV), a strategy to build a clean, resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers.

Affordable Solar doubles the incentives for each solar project installed at the home of a low- to moderate-income resident. The double incentives are available for residential solar projects for households earning less than 80 percent of the area or state median income, who often lack access to sufficient up-front capital to purchase a solar installation.

Initial funding for the double incentives is expected to support between 2,500 and 4,500 new residential projects for low- to moderate-income households. Residential incentives currently range from 20 cents per watt to 60 cents per watt, depending on the area of the State. The low end will increase to 40 cents per watt under this program, and the high end to $1.20 per watt.

The start of the Affordable Solar program continues to expand renewable energy at customer sites in support of REV goals. Governor Cuomo first announced the program at Capital for a Day in Central New York. The incentives are available through the NY-Sun initiative, administered by NYSERDA.

“Affordable Solar expands solar energy to households most in need of the electricity cost reductions that solar provides and enables them to participate in Governor Cuomo’s REV strategy,” said John B. Rhodes, President and CEO, NYSERDA. “We expect to see strong interest in this program from solar installers and residents.”

Eligibility requirements for the increased incentives through Affordable Solar include household income verification and completion of an electricity energy efficiency assessment at the home. If the assessment identifies a need for more efficient lighting or hot water heating, those updates will be implemented prior to the solar installation to decrease electricity consumption.

Part of Governor Cuomo’s NY-Sun initiative, Affordable Solar is authorized to spend $13 million to achieve greater participation by low- to moderate-income customers in solar electric programs. The double incentives for low- to moderate-income homeowners will use approximately half of that funding. The other half will be used in the future to support shared solar projects for renters and others who do not have rooftops or who have rooftops that are unsuitable for solar.

Learn more about Affordable Solar online at ny-sun.ny.gov/affordablesolar.