Solar, Wind & Biomass Energy Systems Exemption |
Incentive Type: |
Property Tax Exemption |
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: |
Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Daylighting, Anaerobic Digestion |
Applicable Sectors: |
Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Agricultural |
Terms: |
15-year exemption |
Website: |
http://www.orps.state.ny.us/
assessor/manuals/vol4/part1/section4.01/sec487.htm |
Authority 1: |
NY CLS RPTL § 487 |
Expiration Date: |
12/31/2010 |
Section 487 of the New York State Real Property Tax Law provides a 15-year real property tax exemption for solar and wind energy systems constructed in New York State. In September 2002, the property tax exemption was expanded (S.B 6592) to include farm-waste energy systems, defined as systems and related equipment that generate electric energy from biogas produced by the anaerobic digestion of agricultural waste -- such as livestock manure, farming waste and food processing wastes. The maximum rated system capacity for eligible farm-waste energy systems is 400 kilowatts (kW).
The exemption applies to systems that are (a) existing or constructed prior to July 1, 1988, or (b) constructed subsequent to January 1, 1991, and prior to January 1, 2011. (Senate Bill 5966A, enacted in July 2006, extended the previous January 1, 2006 expiration date.) The law intends to encourage the installation of solar, wind and farm-waste energy equipment systems and to ensure property owners that their real property taxes will not increase as a result of the installation of these systems. The amount of the exemption is equal to the increase in assessed value attributable to the solar, wind or farm-waste energy system.
Definitions and guidelines for the eligibility for exemption of solar and wind-energy equipment are available at the web site shown above. Guidelines for farm-waste energy equipment are available from New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
With respect to systems constructed after January 1, 1991, and before January 1, 2011, each county, city, town, village and school district (except the city school districts of New York, Buffalo, Syracuse, Syracuse and Yonkers) may choose whether to disallow the exemption. The option must be exercised by counties, cities, towns and villages through adoption of a local law and by school districts through adoption of a resolution. |
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