Question What can you tell me about rebate incentives for residential solar panels in New York state?
Also, where can solar panels be purchased in the Binghamton/Liberty/Jeffersonville area? Home Depot has some on their website & I would like to see them in a store before purchasing or ordering them.

Best Answer Enacted in August 1997, this personal income tax credit originally applied to expenditures on solar-electric (PV) equipment used on residential property. The credit, equal to 25% percent of the cost of equipment and installation, was expanded in August 2005 to include solar-thermal equipment. The solar-thermal provisions apply to taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2006. The credit is capped at $3,750 for solar-energy systems placed in service before September 1, 2006, and capped at $5,000 for solar-energy systems placed in service on or after September 1, 2006. Solar-energy equipment is defined as "an arrangement or combination of components utilizing solar radiation, which, when installed in a residence, produces energy designed to provide heating, cooling, hot water or electricity." The credit may not be used for pool heating or other recreational applications. Any amount of credit that exceeds a taxpayer's liability in a given tax year may be carried forward for the five following taxable years. Any portion of the system cost provided by a non-taxable federal, state, or local grant is not eligible for this credit. Systems must comply with the 10 kW capacity limit on residential, net-metered solar-energy systems*. In 2007, legislation was passed increasing the capacity limit to 50 kW for condominiums and cooperative housing associations. In addition, members of condominium management associations and tenant stockholders of cooperative housing associations are now allowed to claim a proportionate share of the total system expense towards the tax credit. These changes took effect beginning in the 2007 tax year, but as with other portions of the tax credit, they do not have an expiration date. *The language of the tax credit generally requires that PV systems conform to the state's net metering law, thereby limiting system size to 10 kW. In August 2008, the state net metering law was expanded by S.B. 7171 to permit net metering for residential PV systems up to 25 KW. It is unclear at this point whether the state intends for the new net metering limits to apply to the tax credit described above. The 2009 Solar Tax Credit Form IT-255 does not specifically address this issue. http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=NY03F&re=1&ee=1 Contact: Taxpayer Assistance - Personal Income Tax Information Center New York State Department of Taxation and Finance W.A. Harriman Campus Albany, NY 12227 Phone: (518) 457-5181 Phone 2: (800) 225-5829 Web Site: http://www.tax.state.ny.us Hope that you find the above enclosed information useful. 09/19/2011

Question How many residential Solar rooftops?
Anyone knows what's the forecast for the number of residential solar rooftops in the US today and in 5 years? How about globally?

Best Answer I cannot answer exactly however CA has put in an initiative to hav 1 million solar roofs by 2012. Since they are the most progressive alt energy satte in the union the other states would probably not add up to much more than that as a whole. Wish the govt would bail me out of my energy bills and pay for a solar installation for my house.

Question What are the current Federal incentives for residential solar power?
I'm looking at a start up specializing in installing PV solar systems. What are the current federal tax incentives for them. I'm not looking for any political BS. I'm a Republican and am willing to invest my $$ in it. I think that makes me a believer.

Best Answer Federal incentives for residential solar electric systems is 30% to a max of $2000. Business incentives are 30% and from my understanding no top limit. Go to this site and click on your state. For all incentives avalable in your state. http://www.dsireusa.org