Actions > Let’s Bring Solar Within Reach For All New Yorkers, and Expand the Solar Tax Credit

Let’s Bring Solar Within Reach For All New Yorkers, and Expand the Solar Tax Credit

Energy democracy & policy,
Solar affordability

February 13, 2025

Take action now: Send a message to your legislator!

The Solar Within Reach Coalition unites solar homeowners, community organizations, housing equity advocates, environmental justice groups, and businesses that support fair and equitable access to solar and clean energy.

These groups have joined together to support legislation S2626 and A1373A that would modernize an existing solar tax incentive to make rooftop solar and energy storage ownership more affordable for New Yorkers.

The state solar tax credit cap hasn’t been updated or adjusted for inflation since 2006. The current tax credit also leaves several New Yorkers out. It falls short because it is not accessible to low-income and senior homeowners who often do not pay enough in taxes to use the credit, and those homeowners can benefit the most from decreased electricity bills through rooftop solar.

As energy bills continue to rise, New Yorkers can’t afford to wait.

We’re calling on Governor Hochul and state leaders to make solar work for everyone. S2626 and A1373A urgently need to be included in the 2025-2026 budget. These bills will:

Increase the state’s solar tax credit cap from $5,000 to $10,000
Make the tax credit refundable, so income-qualified and fixed-income families can also afford to go solar
Eliminate the arbitrary cap on system size to allow more co-ops and condos to participate
Ensure the credits apply to energy storage projects, as well as solar, to incentivize resilient solar