Just last week on Arbor Day, New York State announced new legislation to extend the NY-Sun Initiative for another decade. The New York Solar Bill (S.2522) represents policy geared toward job creation, lower solar costs, and increased access to energy independence through a public-private partnership. Coupled with the Federal Tax Credits and State tax benefits, the bill represents tremendous potential for economic growth in the solar industry and statewide. According to a report released by the Solar Energy Industries Association, there are now more solar employees than actors in California or ranchers in Texas. “New York State, we hope, will soon follow,” says John Wright, Vice President of Hudson Solar.

“Our customers are enjoying sales tax exemptions, State grants, corporate tax credits, personal tax credits, low interest rates, and generous grant and rebate programs,” shares Wright, “not to mention the ability to sell excess energy back to the utility company and the incredible resale potential for an energy efficient property. Now, we also have a solidified long-term commitment from the State with this legislation, which will keep costs down for another 10 years. Once customers sit down with us and assess the overall financial benefits of going solar because of the countless incentives available to them, it is an absolute no-brainer.”

“The tax benefits, for example, translate to dollar-for-dollar tax credits. In contrast to deductions, credits literally put money back in the pockets of those who can claim them. The tax credits associated with going solar are one of the only ways to substantially lower a tax bill or increase the amount of a refund, reducing tax liability directly,” he continued.

The Federal Tax Credit, available for anyone who purchases a solar energy system before the end of 2016, allows qualified individuals to claim 30% of the total cost as a tax credit. The credit is available whether the system is installed on your primary residence, a second home (if it is not solely used as a rental property), and has no limit in terms of dollar amount. Whether the system costs $20,000 or more, one can claim the full 30% as a Federal Tax Credit, translating to big savings.

On a State level, there is access to even more incentives when transitioning to solar power. New York State Tax Credits allow for up to 25% of the total costs (up to $5,000) to be claimed. The systems are exempt from state and local sales tax, and some local governments allow for property tax exemptions as well. An added bonus for both Federal and State Tax Credits is that excess credits can be carried forward into the future.

The financial rewards of going solar continue beyond the tax advantages. Owners of solar systems obtain the paybacks of net metering, which allows for the sale of excess energy to utility companies, and, of course, increased home value. “From a tax standpoint, going solar is clearly a fiscally responsible decision, but the technology really has financial advantages on every level,” shares Michael Bucci, CPA, of Pattison, Koskey, Howe, and Bucci CPAs in Hudson, NY.

And now, with the recent announcement of another ten years for the NY-Sun Initiative to provide increased savings, job development, and economic growth, it is clear that solar energy could be an engine for prosperity in New York State.

Hudson Solar is a local, family-owned solar provider based out of New York and proud employer of military veterans. This year they are celebrating their 10th anniversary with over 1,000 systems installed. Serving New York, Western Connecticut, Western Massachusetts, and Southern Vermont, Hudson Solar is the leading renewable energy company in the region. They take great pride in offering the best quality and service, and back it up with years of experience and many awards. For more information, please visit hudsonsolar.com or call 866.452.7652.
Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/business/press-releases/article/New-York-State-Expands-NY-Sun-Initiative-For-4488112.php#ixzz2SWtZEVKe

It raises all natural poultry, turkey, duck, rabbit, guinea hen, quail goat and pasture raised pork and beef. Now it is gathering sunshine.

The farm, owned by Richard Biezynski, is the latest to add a photovoltaic array. The project, announced publicly today, features 150 panels that will gather about 26 kilowatts of power, more than enough to run the farm.

“This is just another step in my evolution as a farmer,” Biezynski, 63, said.

The project cost $182,000. Federal and state rebates and grants will reduce the out of pocket cost to $47,000. The panels were purchased from Rhinebeck-based Hudson Solar.

Earlier this year, Biezynski closed on a deal to sell the development rights on his farm to a public-private coalition that included Scenic Hudson, the Dutchess Land Conservancy and the Town of Red Hook.

Some of the proceeds from that sale were turned around to pay for the panels.

“This is a beautiful marriage and wonderful example of the kind of partnerships necessary to preserve farming,” Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said.

Northwind Farms made a cash purchase for the unit, taking advantage of New York state rebates as well as federal and U.S. Department of Agriculture grants, which offered a 25-year savings on the system.

The land preservation group Scenic Hudson partnered with Northwind Farms, the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Dutchess Land Conservancy, and the town of Red Hook to purchase a conservation easement on the property that directly contributed to the solar installation on the farm.

Hudson Solar has offices in Rhinebeck in Dutchess County and in Albany.

Earlier this year, Scenic Hudson partnered with Northwind Farms, the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Dutchess Land Conservancy, and the Town of Red Hook to purchase a conservation easement on the farm’s 87 acres. Proceeds from that purchase directly contributed to the solar installation on the farm.

NYS Senator Steve Saland congratulates Northwind Farms owner Rich Biezynski while Hudson Solar’s Dave Byrne, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and farmer Russell Biezynski look on.

“Since opening in 1981, I’ve always tried to maintain a natural environment on my farm,” said Richard Biezynski, owner of Northwind Farms. “I’ve been a staunch supporter of healthy feeding and even developed my own organic meal for the animals. I wanted to maintain that green philosophy throughout other initiatives on my farm, so implementing clean solar technology only made sense.”

“Mr. Biezynski is a wonderful role model in the farming community,” said John Wright, vice president of Hudson Solar. “Even businesses like farming that are often viewed as being eco-friendly traditionally have used equipment which still takes a toll on our planet. Installing solar panels helps to keep farms truly green.”

“It is gratifying to see a farm family put the proceeds of sale of a conservation easement to such good use — for the farm’s economic viability, and for its environmental sustainability,” said Seth McKee, Scenic Hudson’s Land Conservation director. “This is a great example of how a purchase-of-development-rights (PDR) project becomes an economic development project. Through a multiplier effect, the cash proceeds have rippled through the local economy, creating and sustaining green jobs with the Hudson Valley’s premier renewable energy company.”

Cuomo’s Initiative intends to double the amount of solar power installations in New York State this year, and quadruple that amount by 2013. In order to do this, Cuomo has placed the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and New York Power Authority (NYPA) in charge of coordinating a solar expansion plan with state funding. According to John Wright, Vice President of Hudson Solar, “One of the inhibitors to growth in New York State is a lack of funding to these projects.” With the funding, solar energy businesses such as Hudson Solar, anticipate a lot of skilled job openings. Cuomo’s NY-Sun Initiative outlines aggressive growth in the solar industry, as well as a plan to make solar energy more affordable for New Yorkers. Although Wright said that he doesn’t yet know the specifics, “we have a strategic growth plan in place.” “All the specifics should be rolled out within the next two weeks,” Wright explained on Monday. The benefits of solar energy are numerous, and Wright said that the cost savings in the long run outweigh all the initial costs of installing solar panels. Hudson Solar also offers financing so that the payback is immediate. According to Governor Cuomo’s Press Release, “NYSERDA and NYPA are providing at least $40 million to promote research into reducing the overall equipment and installation costs so that future solar energy is competitive with other forms of electricity and require no government subsidies.”

Hudson Solar is going into their 10th year in business, and is a combined effort of the former Adirondack Solar and Hudson Valley Clean Energy. For more information on Hudson Solar services, call 866-452-7652, or visit them online at hvce.com. To see Cuomo’s entire Comprehensive NY-Sun Initiative, visit www.governor.ny.gov/press/04192012-sun-initiative.

Gibson had the honor of flipping the switch after a succession of speeches starting with Michael Arnoff, the company president, and ending with Gibson, who was introduced by Molinaro.  He did so without much drama before he began his talk praising the project.

Creating the new 96-kilowatt solar farm is the biggest effort by Arnoff’s company to “go green” and switch to solar power. Unfortunately for the onlookers, there was not much sunlight, if any, on Wednesday morning, so there was not much to behold after the switch was flipped by Gibson.

Arnoff explained how the project came about.  He related that the company is an 88-year family business that started in 1924. When Arnoff bought this particular site location in 2005, it was a brownfield.  According to a press release from the company, it was formerly a Taconic Products/K&E site. After the site cleanup, it has now been removed from the New York State Registry of Inactive Waste Disposal Sites.

Arnoff partnered with Salisbury Bank and Hudson Solar to make the project possible. According to the press release, Hudson Solar is a “full-service solar electric, geo-thermal, and solar hot water provider specializing in the design, installation and servicing of renewable energy systems.” Hudson Solar  contracted with Sun Power, whose solar cells hold the world record in efficiency at 22.4 percent.

The ambitious project is a step in the right direction for where New York is supposedly heading, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s New York Sun Initiative. The Initiative states that solar power in New York will be doubled by 2012 and tripled by 2013.

Arnoff introduced solar energy to Millerton to reduce its carbon footprint, but it works out financially as well. With the new tax-credit incentives by the federal government, “the system will pay for itself in the first few years and then it will provide income for the business after that.”

Molinaro and Gibson not only had praise for the Arnoff family and the new solar farm but took time to talk about the economy and what businesses like this could do for job growth. They mentioned that with 250 employees, Arnoff has grown from a small business to a big business for this area.

Installed by Hudson Solar of Rhinebeck, federal tax credit incentives will help pay for the project in the first few years, company officials said.

On hand to “flip the switch” Wednesday were Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro, US Congressman Christopher Gibson and a number of other public officials.

“Arnoff is setting an example of how a local business can help lead the way to energy self-sufficiency,” said Northeast Town Supervisor John Merwin.

It’s a solar-power rig that rests atop the sprawling warehouse of Arnoff Moving & Storage on Route 22.

The Poughkeepsie-based company has put about $525,000 into the project, but expects to recover part of it through grants from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the rest of it over the long run by saving on electricity costs.

“We’re very, very excited about it,” said Michael Arnoff, president of the company.

The array of photovoltaic cells is capable of producing 96,000 watts, or 96 kilowatts. A typical house might have an average draw of a kilowatt.

“The Millerton building was the greatest place,” Arnoff said. “It’s a flat roof, a beautifully engineered roof, and it has no shade. It’s wide open.” He expects the system to provide about 75 percent of the building’s power.

Payback of the investment is expected to take 10 years, though that depends on what power from the grid costs, Arnoff said.

This building was bought in 2005 and the polluted property was subsequently remediated and removed from New York state’s registry of inactive waste disposal sites. The land was used by Taconic Products and K&E, and other manufacturers before.

Arnoff has sites in Poughkeepsie, Albany and Millerton plus one in Lakeville, Conn.

Arnoff said the “green” movement began to occupy management’s thoughts some years back.

“We really started to talk about the whole concept of going green and our carbon footprint,” he said.

Shifting to recycled packing materials was an early move. Then, trucks got a look, and so far, 20 percent of them have been replaced with ones having modern fuel-saving engines.

Then came the utility bills.

Arnoff’s wife, Lisa Arnoff, “looked at solar and wind, and solar kept winning out.”

They contracted with Rhinebeck-based Hudson Solar, also known as Hudson Valley Clean Energy, which recently finished the installation.

“Our community is very proud of Arnoff Moving & Storage for many reasons,” North East Town Supervisor John Merwin said. “First of all, Arnoff is setting an example of how a local business can help lead the way to energy self-sufficiency. Secondly, Arnoff is a great example of a successful business, which has maintained its local roots.”

Among local officials attending were U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook, and Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro.

“These projects recognize the best and brightest solar projects and individuals in the Empire State,” said NYSEIA Executive Director Gail Markets.

NYSEIA President Ron Kamen was recognized as the 2011 Solar Industry Champion. Kamen, also chairman at EarthKind Energy in Kingston, has served as president of the membership association since 2009 and has more than 20 years of experience in the energy industry. Kamen and the association have been strong supporters of the Solar Jobs Bill, among other statewide policies and initiatives.

First place for design went to “Lunar Cubit,” proposed by a designer team lead by Robert Flottemesch, an artist working with renewable energy and a senior engineer at Hudson Valley Clean Energy, in New York.

Lunar Cubit consists of a large central pyramid surrounded by eight smaller ones that all collect solar energy during the day and illuminate themselves at night in combinations corresponding to the cycles of the moon. The designers envision Lunar Cubit as a landmark — situated just outside the world’s first “zero-carbon” metropolis, Masdar City in the United Arab Emirates — as recognizable as Big Ben or the Empire State Building.