Dutchess County Legislature recently approved a resolution to exempt all residential solar customers from sales tax. Here’s what that means for you.
Heads up Dutchess County, New York residents: the Dutchess County Legislature is giving you another incentive to invest in solar! Earlier this week, they approved a resolution to exempt all residential solar customers from sales tax. What does this mean for you?
If the resolution is signed into law, all residential customers will no longer pay county sales tax on the use of residential solar energy, equipment and installation services, and the sale of electricity generated from going solar.
“It is my hope that when this law goes into effect, it will have the dual benefit of rewarding those who have already made the switch to solar while also encouraging others to do so,” said Legislator John Forman, main sponsor of the proposal, according to the Poughkeepsie Journal. “This is a small, but important component of our push to deviate from harmful fossil fuels and move towards clean, renewable energy. As residents of the Hudson Valley, doing anything we can to protect our beautiful and scenic environment must remain a top priority.”
The exemption will take place on March 1, 2018 if signed into law by Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro.
The financial incentives for going solar serve many purposes, but perhaps the biggest is to encourage homeowners to switch to renewable solar energy and lower their energy usage. Incentive programs vary considerably from state to state, and New York is one of the only states to also offer a state tax credit, worth up to $5,000!
Financial benefits come in more than one form of savings. In addition to lowering your monthly electric bill, the purchase of solar panels could qualify for other incentives, such as the NYSERDA grant and federal investment tax credit, in addition to those mentioned above. The federal tax credit can offset up to 30% of your home’s renewable energy purchase.
Most importantly, solar power systems derive clean, pure energy from the sun. When you install solar panels on your home, you immediately begin to combat greenhouse gas emissions by reducing your collective dependence on fossil fuels.
The Dutchess County Legislature resolution is a promising move for residents, and with the favorable fiscal conditions, it is time, now more than ever, for Dutchess County residents to strongly consider going solar.
Solar is a way to invest in yourself and your family, and makes a big statement about how you choose to spend – and consume – your resources. Are you ready to make the move?
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