Copy this advocacy letter template, or download it below, to encourage your representatives to pass this important solar legislation, and to show the bill sponsors your support.

BILL SPONSORS

Assembly Member Latrice Walker

WalkerL@nyassembly.gov

(518) 455-4466

Senator Velmanette Montgomery

montgome@nysenate.gov

(518) 455-3451

Find my senator: https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator

Find my assembly member: https://nyassembly.gov/mem/search/

_____________________

DATE

RE: Improving the Residential Solar Tax Credit to Meet New York’s Climate Goals

Dear ASSEMBLY MEMBER / SENATOR NAME,

I write to strongly express support for passage of Bill S.752A/A.6420A, which expands the tax credit for solar energy equipment by making home batteries eligible for the credit and raising it to $10,000 from $5,000 for projects placed in service on or after September 1, 2020.

Solar and battery systems are key technologies for controlling air pollution and protecting public health in New York. They are also an important part of our response to climate change, and their continued growth is critical for achieving our state’s distributed solar, energy storage, electric sector decarbonization, and economy-wide emissions reductions goals mandated by the Climate Legislation and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) of 2019.

Since 2016, residential solar installations in New York have declined by 35 percent, and home battery deployment has significantly lagged other states. Home batteries are a key enabling technology for solar energy and essential for using clean energy at night, but despite their critical role in reducing emissions, batteries are not currently eligible for the solar tax credit.

If passed, this bill would extent the existing solar tax credit to home batteries and allow New Yorkers who place solar energy equipment on their property on or after September 1, 2020 to claim the personal income tax credit up to $10,000. This bill is a simple extension of a law that effectively compensates New Yorkers who take the initiative to purchase clean energy.

Bill S.752A/A.6420A will also benefit businesses across New York State. The solar industry is at the vanguard of job creation in New York, employing more than 10,000 workers and growing rapidly. Vote Solar estimates that another 11,000 jobs would be created by the CLCPA-dictated mandate to transition to 100 percent clean electricity by 2040.

But the state cannot fully decarbonize on its own—the transition to clean energy requires participation from home and building owners across New York. By making it more financially viable to install solar and energy storage, this expanded tax credit will incentivize the development of thousands of solar projects, accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy, and make it possible for New York to reach its clean energy goals.

For these reasons, we strongly encourage swift passage of Bill S.752/A.6420A to increase the state tax credit for residential solar energy.

Sincerely,

NAME, TITLE / COMPANY