Solar Energy Gets Another Boost from County Lawmakers

Written by Leslie Yager

The Westchester County Board of Legislators has exempted the sale and installation of commercial solar energy system equipment from existing county sales tax. 

The BOL approved a similar act in May 2011 exempting installation of residential solar equipment from county sales taxes, a landmark law that was later picked up at the state level and signed into law by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. 

“The best way to support solar-based business is to make installations more economically viable,” said  Legislator Catherine Borgia (D-Ossining) in a statement from the BOL. 

The bill passed Aug. 12, which requires County Executive Rob Astorino’s signature, would mean the tax break would be in place for all new solar installations in Westchester. 

While the projected annual cost of the program is estimated to be about $40,000 per year in lost sales tax to the county, according to the BOL, the average savings to each participating Westchester business would be over $1,000. 

“The economic benefits to small businesses that produce and install these systems, and the green jobs that will likely be created, are only two of the many benefits that are sure to come as a result of this tax-saving initiative,” said Majority Leader Peter Harckham (D-North Salem) in the release.  

Last year, the BOL also unanimously approved new legislation, also spearheaded by Borgia, to streamline the process for home and building owners to install solar energy systems by relieving solar panel and solar heating installers and contractors from needing to obtain a home improvement license from Westchester County before doing work here.