NYSERDA: Solar in New York

When researching solar for your home or business, you’re likely coming across NYSERDA, or specifically NYSERDA incentives and rebates. What exactly is NYSERDA, and how does it play a role in promoting solar and other types of clean energy in New York?

Here, we’ll take a look at what NYSERDA is and how it is helping more people save when they go solar:

What is NYSERDA?

NYSERDA, the New York Energy Research and Development Authority, is a public-benefit corporation established in 1975 to help New York state residents, specifically regarding clean energy. NYSERDA helps the state continue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase jobs in clean energy, improve economic growth, meet climate goals, and more. New York is currently working towards a goal of having 70% of its electricity renewably sourced by 2030 (2).

“Since our founding in 1975, NYSERDA’s mission, vision, and programs are continually evolving to improve the lives of New Yorkers. In addition to supporting clean energy and technologies, we’re working to advance equity and inclusivity, jobs and economic development, public health, and community resilience through our work. Collectively, these efforts are key to developing a cleaner, more reliable, and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers,” directly from NYSERDA (3).

NYSERDA, Clean Energy, and Solar

NYSERDA offers several incentives and financing options for both residential and commercial solar projects. Through these programs, NYSERDA helps to make solar energy more accessible and affordable for more individuals and companies.

Let’s take a look at some of these programs and initiatives:

NY-Sun Initiative:
- Provides financial incentives to customers within New York State. Variations based on location may occur depending on how common solar is in the area, ease of installation, or other factors (1). Emphasis is placed on regions that have a lesser existing solar presence. This program aims to make solar energy more accessible in many areas by reducing installation costs.
Affordable Solar Program:
- For households earning less than 80% of the median income in their area, NYSERDA offers additional incentives (1). This program increases the financial support available, making solar energy an option for more lower-income households. More information on eligibility and application details for the program can be found from NYSERDA.
Federal Tax Incentives:
- In addition to state incentives, residents may also qualify for Federal tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (1). This act, implemented in 2022, provides a tax credit of up to 30% of the total solar project cost, further reducing the initial cost.

While solar is a big part of NYSERDA’s efforts, there are many other renewable energy programs and initiatives. Wind power, NY-Sun (solar), community solar, energy storage facilities, and many more are all being implemented. NYSERDA isn’t just focused on clean energy itself, but also on creating improvements to these communities with their efforts. As solar and other clean energy transitions become more common, these incentives and rebates will likely decrease, so don’t wait and risk losing savings! Contact us on our website or use our free instant solar estimate to see how solar can help your home!

*Keep in mind, every solar install situation is individual. It’s essential to consult with a certified tax professional to fully understand how to maximize savings available to you and navigate the application process.

We are a Quality Solar Installer with Gold Status

NYSERDA has a ‘Quality Solar Installer’ designation which is granted yearly to solar installers that meet their high standards of quality and consistently provide high performance and customer satisfaction. There are also higher tiers such as ‘Gold Status’ (identifies companies which have earned ‘Quality Solar Installer’ status for 3 consecutive years) and ‘Platinum Status’ (identifies companies which have earned ‘Quality Solar Installer’ status for 6 consecutive years) (4).

Here at Kasselman Solar, we currently have the NYSERDA Gold Quality Solar Installer Status for 2024 (this is the 2nd year in a row that we have earned this Gold Status!) Read more about our NYSERDA designation in our article.

Out of 225 total solar contractors provided by NYSERDA in this year’s list, only 12 contractors currently have either the Platinum or Gold status (only about 5% of all New York solar companies!) (1). These designations can change each year as companies change, however both Platinum and Gold status show a consistency of quality across multiple years which takes time and dedication to maintain – and which we have proudly earned!

On NYSERDA’s website, you can view the full 2024 list of Residential & Small Commercial Solar Contractors. Here you can directly search for a specific company or filter by county to view solar contractors operating near you!

Ready to claim your savings? Get in touch and we’ll help you get started with solar!

Sources:

Published: 9/25/2024

Ava Clemenzi

Ava Clemenzi, Assistant Marketing Specialist at Kasselman Solar, is a recent graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Electronic Arts and Communication, Media & Design with a minor in biology. She is local to the Capital Region and joined Kasselman for the opportunity to expand upon her experience in the marketing and design field while working with and helping others in the community.