Residential solar is a great choice if you have a suitable location for your solar panels on your roof or property.
Residential solar can be a particularly good investment, with up to two-thirds of the cost being covered by state and federal incentives. If you finance the rest, your monthly payments can be the same as what you are currently paying the utility for electricity.
You may also want to consider the Community Solar Subscription model of going solar.
Incentives for Residential Solar
There are three main incentives available to homes in the area:
NYSERDA rebate - as of 4/1/2023, rebate is at $0.40/watt for income-eligible households.
NYS Tax Credit - 25% of cost, after the rebate, up to $5,000. Credit can be claimed over five years.
Federal Tax Credit - 30% of installation cost, after the rebate. Valid for projects completed through 2032 (then it decreases).
In addition, there are financing options to help pay for the remainder of the cost after incentives.
Contractors
We recommend getting a few quotes from certified local contractors who can help you access the various federal and state incentives, and explore different solar possibilities that are right for you.
There are contractors with offices on Long Island that provide residential solar services. See here for a larger list of all NYSERDA-approved contractors. We encourage you to get quotes from several contractors and to do your research to find one that works for you. There is also a list of PSEG-approved Community Solar Developers.