Relates to increasing solar energy tax credits, implementing a solar STAR credit, and amends provisions relating to the siting of major renewable energy…

• Republican1

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick says this is needed

New York State has established ambitious energy and emission reduction goals, however, in the wake of punishingly high inflation rates, New York's outlook for meeting related statutory deadlines do not look prom- ising. In light of this, the state recently advanced measures, such as the Renewable Action Through Project Interconnection and Deployment (RAPID) Act, to aggressively pursue these goals. However, many local communities have been concerned about the provisions of the RAPID Act that would allow the Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES) to override local laws or ordinances with respect to siting major renewable energy or electric transmission facilities. Rather than eroding local control over major developments in communities to bolster New York's renewable energy portfolio, this legislation would offer incentives to residents to help eliminate barriers to choosing renewable energy. In addition to increasing the solar energy system equipment credit from 25% of expenditures to 40% of expenditures and doubling the cap on the credit from $5,000 to $10,000, this legislation would further establish a new Solar STAR credit program for homeowners in municipalities that choose to host at least two midscale solar energy projects. This Solar Star Credit would be equal to 25% of the total basic star credit available to homeowners. Finally, this legislation would restore and enhance local control by eliminating ORES's ability to override local rules, as these decisions belong in the hands of resi- dents of the communities developers are seeking to build in. Done in a thoughtful, responsible manner, a transition to a cleaner energy grid can be greatly beneficial to New Yorkers by diversifying the grid and eliminating emissions. This bill would advance New York's efforts to do so, without top-down mandates on communities and by instead focusing on providing incentives and relief where all too many New Yorkers need it most-in their wallets.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.