The snow capital of the United States, Syracuse, New York has, on average, more snowfall per year than any other metropolitan area across the United States. The record amount in one year? Over 192 inches! The combination of the lake effect from Lake Ontario and nor’easter snow, Syracuse is certainly on the map, weather-wise, for its winter activity. But, did you know it’s also on the map for other weather-related events? In particular, the sun. No, it’s not the most sunny city in the country, but it’s one of the leading cities in the country for solar power.
Syracuse Sun Climate
If you live in New York and you’re interested in harvesting energy from the sun, you chose a great city to live. It’s true that Syracuse is not the sunniest in the country. In fact, less than half of the year sees sun (44% of the year to be exact). But, even though there are only 161 days of the year with full or partial sun, on those days, there are 4.2 peak sun hours and a total of 676 sun hours per year. Experts know this is enough to power the average Syracuse home.
And with the extraordinarily high prices of electricity in New York state, in general, and the excellent solar rebates, tax breaks, and incentives available to Syracuse residents, these sun statistics are actually pretty stellar.
The Cost for a Solar Energy System in Syracuse
How much is it going to set you back? You’ll be pleased to know, not that much in the grand scheme of things. In fact, the state of has some of the lowest priced solar energy systems in the country.
The average home in Syracuse typically requires an 8kW solar energy system. This is a little larger than the average size around the country, mainly attributable to the extra energy required during the torrential snowstorms to keep the homes warm. And the average cost to install a solar energy system of this size is a little over $29,000. You might be shocked to know a system costs this much. . .but, don’t despair. Because after the tax breaks, solar incentives, and solar rebates that are available to Syracuse residents, the price of the solar energy system will likely drop about 50%!
That’s right, after all of the available solar benefits are taken into account, the average price of an installed solar energy system is $14,597. What a difference in price! And, not to mention, this price tag is significantly less than the average price of a new car. Plus, a solar energy system will last you at least 25+ years and you’ll make more money off of it than you put in to buy it. What car have you owned that you’ve kept for 25+ years and made almost double the profit on what you paid for it? Unless you’re an expert in collectibles, the average person would answer “not many” or “zero,” most likely.
And with some of the highest electricity prices in the country, Syracuse residents will be happy to know that the average yearly savings in power purchased from the local utility companies is $1,339. That’s a savings of about $112 per month!
Solar Legislation in Syracuse
As mentioned previously, New York state has a pretty stellar solar program, knocking 50% off the sticker price. Before we get into the state level, let’s start with the federal tax incentives for installing a solar energy system.
Per the Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit, if you purchase a solar energy system for your home, the federal government will give you 30% off the total price of the system, no limits. But, your system must be installed and fully functional by December 31, 2019. And based on the sticker price for a 8kW system ( the average size for Syracuse residents), you’ll be able to decrease the total price of your system by $8,700 right out of the gates. Hurry if you’re interested in these significant cost savings – on January 1, 2020, the tax incentive drops to 22% off, expiring December 31, 2020. And, starting January 1, 2021, the price drops to 22%. After 2021, the tax incentive is no longer available.
At the state-level, New York is a big winner in solar legislation. Through the NY-Sun PV Incentive Program, New York residents statewide can receive rebate rates of $400 per kW on solar installations (up to 25 kW). On an 8kW system, you’re eligible for a $3,200 rebate (overall, there is a $5,000 cap on this rebate).
With the NY-Sun program, multiple incentive programs that support solar projects can be found. The K-Solar program works with schools to install solar power, the Affordable Solar program works with low- to moderate-income residents to be able to afford solar paenls, and the Shared Solar program is designed to help renters (who can’t install solar panels on their roofs because they don’t own the property) to have access to solar energy.
At the local level, you can check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency to see which solar incentives are available to Syracuse residents alone. Many of these include rebates from specific solar companies for using their products.
Local Syracuse Solar Installers
The key to finding a good solar installer is to shop around. Each customer’s needs are different and the solar companies you consult with may have different products and services to offer. Below are some of the top local solar installation companies in Syracuse.
- Syracuse
- Geneva
- East Syracuse and surrounding area
