2024 Solar Incentives Guide for Elmont, NY - Tax Credits & Rebates

In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Elmont.

You'll learn about:

  • Local & State Solar Incentives
  • Federal Tax Credits (Updated for 2024 and beyond)
  • Ways to optimize your solar investment

Solar installers are experts in maximizing your solar tax credits and rebates.
Get a free quote from one of our trusted Elmont solar installers to see how much you can save.

By EcoWatch Local Advisors

Data Analysis: James Savino

Ranking Methodology: Karsten Neumeister

Updated April 21, 2024

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We work with a panel of solar experts to create unbiased reviews that empower you to make the right choice for your home. No other site has covered renewables as long as us, which means we have more data and insider information than other sites. Our rankings are never affected by revenue or partnerships.

What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Elmont?

State of NY Commercial PACE Financing Program

Incentive Type:
PACE Financing
Locally determined

Residential Solar Tax Credit

Incentive Type:
Personal Tax Credit
25% for solar-electric (PV) and solar-thermal systems; for third-party owned systems this is in reference to the aggregate amount owed under the contract rather than the amount owed in any single year

Refundable Clean Heating Fuel Tax Credit (Corporate)

Incentive Type:
Corporate Tax Credit
$0.01/gallon for each percent of biodiesel

NY-Sun Loan Program

Incentive Type:
Loan Program
Residential Customers: $1,500 - $25,000

Small Business and Not-for-Profit Organizations:
Participation Loans: up to $100,000 (at low interest rate)
On-Bill Recovery loans: $50,000 at 2%

Residential Wood Heating Fuel Exemption

Incentive Type:
Sales Tax Incentive
100% exemption

Local Option - Solar Sales Tax Exemption

Incentive Type:
Sales Tax Incentive
Upon local authorization, 100% exemption from local sales tax

Solar Sales Tax Exemption

Incentive Type:
Sales Tax Incentive
100% exemption from state sales tax

Local Option - Real Property Tax Exemption for Green Buildings

Incentive Type:
Property Tax Incentive
Upon local adoption, 20% - 100% of real property taxes owed; varies by year and certification level

Energy Conservation Improvements Property Tax Exemption

Incentive Type:
Property Tax Incentive
100% of the value added to the residence by the improvements

Local Option - Solar, Wind & Biomass Energy Systems Exemption

Incentive Type:
Property Tax Incentive
100% exemption for 15 years (unless local jurisdiction has opted out)

NY-Sun PV Incentive Program (Residential, Low-Income, and Small Business)

Incentive Type:
Rebate Program
Incentive rates step down over time as MW goals are met. Incentive rates as of 11/27/2019 are:

Residential:
Long Island Region: $0.00/W (MW blocks have been fully subscribed)
Con Edison Region: $0.30/W
Upstate Region: $0.35/W
Low-to-Moderate income customers: $0.80/W (up to 10 kW)

Small Commercial (Non-Residential):Long Island Region: $0.00/W (MW blocks have been fully subscribed)
Con Edison Region: $0.60/W
Up State Region: $0.45/W

Multifamily Affordable Housing Adder: additional $0.40/W (up to 50 kW)

PSEG Long Island - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program

Incentive Type:
Rebate Program
Appliances
Advanced Power Strips: $10 - $20
Air Purifier: $25 - $50
Clothes Dryer: $50 - $250
Clothes Washer: $50
Dehumidifier: $30
Dishwasher: $50
Exhaust Fan: $20 - $25
Electric Freezer: $30
Heat Pump Water Heater: $650
Pool Pumps: $150 - $350
Refrigerator: $50
Refrigerator Recycling: $50

Lighting
Instant Rebates Vary by Product
Bulk Light Purchases: Up to $2 - $3/unit

Cooling & Heating
Central Air Conditioning: $450
Smart Thermostat: $85
Ground Source Heat Pump: $2,000/ton

Ground Source Heat Pump Rebate Program

Incentive Type:
Rebate Program
Small Systems (≤ 10 cooling tons): $1,500/cooling ton
Large Systems (> 10 cooling tons): $1,200/cooling ton

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR

Incentive Type:
Loan Program

NY Green Bank

Incentive Type:
Other Incentive

Refundable Clean Heating Fuel Tax Credit (Personal)

Incentive Type:
Personal Tax Credit
$0.01/gallon for each percent of biodiesel

On-Site Wind Incentive Program

Incentive Type:
Rebate Program
Tier I: 10,000 kWh of expected annual energy production: $3.50/annual kWh
Tier II: 10,000 kWh - 125,000 kWh of expected annual energy production: $1.00/annual kWh
Tier III: 125,000 kWh - 1,000,000 kWh of expected annual energy production: $0.30/ annual kWh
Tier IV: Greater than 1,000,000 kWh of expected annual energy production: $0.15/ annual kWh
These incentives are additive.

Anaerobic Digester Gas-to-Electricity Rebate and Performance Incentive

Incentive Type:
Performance-Based Incentive
  • Capacity Incentive: Varies on the construction and design of the system
  • Performance Incentive: $0.025/kWh production payment for new systems for up to 10 years (estimated using a capacity factor of 75%)
  • Interconnection Incentive: up to 75% of the costs exceeding $5,000
  • Project Enhancement Incentives: Available for Black Start Capability, Hydrogen Sulfide reduction, design for accepting food waste and others

Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit

Incentive Type:
Personal Tax Credit
30% federal tax credit for systems placed in service after 12/31/2021 and before 01/01/2033. Good for: solar water heat, solar photovoltaics, biomass, geothermal heat pumps, wind (small), fuel cells using renewable fuels.

Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/


Solar incentives mitigate the cost of installing a solar panel system on your home. Financial incentives like these are in place to encourage more people to switch their home over to renewable energy. Different types of incentives, including discounts, cash back or credit towards your monthly utility bill, might be available to you. Some incentives may be handled by the New York government, by your utility company or by county or municipality, while others are federal. You might qualify for any of the following types of solar incentives:

  • Net Metering: Net metering is an incentive you can get after your solar panels are up and running. If you have a net metering agreement with your Elmont utility company, the company will subtract the value of the excess energy produced by your solar system from your utility bill each month. In some locations, this is a dollar-for-dollar credit, while in other areas you might get refunded a percentage of the value.
  • Rebates: Rebates, or cash back after a purchase, are typically given before any solar tax credits are calculated. Solar rebates might be provided by your local utility company, by your county or by your state.
  • Tax Credits: Unlike tax deductions, tax credits reduce, dollar-for-dollar, the amount of income tax that you owe the government.
  • Tax Exemptions: Tax exemptions can come in two forms. The first is sales tax exemption, which is applied at the time you purchase your solar panels. The second is property tax exemption, which allows you to ignore the added value of your solar system when calculating property tax for your home.

Best National Provider

SunPower

★★★★★
5.0
  • Most efficient panels on the market
  • National coverage
  • Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
  • Great warranty coverage
  • Expensive
  • Customer service varies by local dealer

Best Regional Coverage

Momentum Solar

★★★★★
4.5
  • Great warranty coverage
  • Representatives are experts on local policies
  • Concierge service ensures steady communication
  • Slightly limited service offerings

Best for Leasing

Sunrun

★★★★★
4.0
  • Expansive service area
  • Many financing options
  • Some reported issues with customer service
  • Some reported issues with door-to-door sales

Federal Solar Incentives

When you hear the term "solar incentives," federal incentives might be the first thing that comes to mind. A federal incentive that most people are likely familiar with is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). This is a tax credit for a given percentage of the cost of your solar system.

The ITC applies to solar systems installed after January 1, 2006, on a primary or secondary residence in the United States that you own. Originally, the tax credit was for 30% of the total cost – for panels, labor, equipment and accessories – although the percentage may range from 26-30%, depending on when your solar system was installed. There is no cap on the claim amount.

To best understand how the ITC could apply to you, get in touch with your local Elmont solar panel installer and ask for more information.

The ITC was both renewed and expanded by the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022. It's also now called the Clean Energy Credit. The new Clean Energy Credit is valid until 2035. You can now apply for a 30% credit for solar systems that began installation on or after January 1, 2022, and will be done by December 31, 2032. This new credit will then see a slight annual decrease until the date of expiration. The program expansion also makes claiming credit for energy storage systems easier than ever before, starting in 2023.

Click here to learn more about the new Inflation Reduction Act. Your local Elmont solar panel company is the best resource for answering your questions regarding the new Clean Energy Credit and how it will apply to you.

State & Local Solar Incentives

Some solar incentives may be provided at the state and local level. Similar to federal incentives, these might include rebates, tax credits and more. Incentives might be handled by the state of New York, or by your county or municipality. Certain incentives might only be available for a limited time, while others are ongoing.

Next Steps for Installing Solar in Elmont

Solar incentives may be offered by the New York government, the federal government or your local utility company. The large number of available incentives has contributed to a large increase in solar energy use in the last 15 years. Call your local solar panel installer today to find out more information and to save the most money possible on a solar system for your Elmont home.

EcoWatch's Elmont, NY Solar Incentives FAQs

I already have solar panels installed. Does my system qualify for any incentives?

Your best bet is to talk to someone from the company that installed your solar system – or speak to a local Elmont solar installer — to better understand which incentives you may qualify for. If your system was installed after January 1, 2022, you likely qualify for the newly increased 30% tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. Systems installed between 2006 and 2021 may qualify for a tax credit of 26-30%.

How much will a solar system save me annually on my electric bill in Elmont?

When you add solar panels to your Elmont home, you can anticipate savings of about $1,447.63 per year, or approximately $27,505.00 over 20 years.

What are some environmental benefits of installing solar panels on my house?

You can decrease your carbon footprint by 250 pounds of CO2 annually by installing solar panels. This adds up to around 5,000 pounds over 20 years. In addition, solar power is a renewable energy source, meaning that making the switch reduces the drain on our planet's resources.

How long until the federal solar tax credit ends?

The Clean Energy Credit (previously called the federal solar tax credit, or the ITC), is scheduled to end on January 1, 2035. Currently set at 30%, the credit will drop to 26% in 2033 and to 22% in 2034.

Can I qualify for incentives both towards the up-front cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?

The order your incentives will be applied in could vary depending on which incentives you are eligible for but in most cases yes, you can receive multiple types of incentives for your solar project. Check with your solar installer or a local tax professional to verify you are claiming all the incentives you're eligible for and applying them in the correct order.

Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert's opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.

Solar incentive research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.

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