A proposal to expand the NYS Solar Energy System Equipment Tax Credit was included in the Senate One House budget (S4009B Part HH, which must be amended to include refundability for low-income homeowners). Since 2006, the current $5,000 personal income tax credit cap (up to 25% of the installation cost) has remained flat without any inflationary adjustment. The tax credit has also been inaccessible to low-income homeowners and seniors with limited tax liability. The tax credit is critical to ensuring the State meets and exceeds its ambitious clean energy and climate goals. NYSEIA is taking action to strengthen this important incentive, and if you haven’t already taken action, we need your help.

We’re asking you, your staff and your customers to take five minutes to call the offices of Governor Hochul and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to voice support for this important proposal. We have created a call script and draft email below to assist your advocacy.

• Call Governor Hochul (518-474-8390, dial "3" then "2" to be connected)

• Call Speaker Heastie (518-455-3791)

Call Script:

My name is ____, I live in _____, NY. I'm a clean energy [worker, advocate, customer].

I'm calling to thank [Governor Hochul] [Speaker Heastie] for [her] [his] clean energy leadership, and to ask for [her] [his] to support the pending budget proposal to expand New York's residential solar tax credit so it is accessible to senior citizens/retirees and low-income families.

This proposal was included in Part HH of the Senate's one-house budget.

The proposal needs to be amended so the solar tax credit is refundable for low-income families who cannot otherwise benefit from this incentive.

We hope we can count on Governor Hochul to support this important proposal in New York's final budget.

Thank you!

You can also advocate by sending an email or via the below form. We have created a template to assist your advocacy.

1. Send a follow up email to Speaker Heastie (Speaker@nyassembly.gov), and

2. Submit a contact form to Governor Hochul: https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form

Continue to share this action alert to your coworkers and fellow clean energy advocates

Email Template:

Subject: Expanding New York’s residential solar tax credit, Part HH of the Senate’s one-house Revenue Article VII Bill

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is ______ and I am a clean energy [worker] [advocate] [customer] who lives in _____, New York.

I would like to thank Speaker Heastie for his clean energy leadership, and I would like to see his support continue with the pending budget proposal to expand New York's residential solar tax credit. This important policy was included in Part HH of the Senate’s one-house Revenue Article VII Bill. The proposal needs to be amended to include refundability, so it is accessible to senior citizens/retirees and low-income families.

The residential solar tax credit is foundational to New York’s transition to clean energy, and making it refundable will ensure that all New Yorkers are able to benefit from New York’s clean energy investments.

Thank you for your consideration,

[Your Name]

[Your Company/Organization, if applicable]