The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is offering agricultural producers and business that use electricity to heat water to consider applying for the state”™s first incentive program for solar-thermal systems. The program will provide $25 million over the next five years to promote the production of hot water from solar power.
“Many agricultural operations require the use of hot water, and in some cases, use a lot of it,” said state agricultural Commissioner Darrel Aubertine. “As farmers and homeowners know too well, electric hot water heaters are not cheap to operate. NYSERDA has offered an incentive to install solar thermal hot water systems that can significantly reduce the heating requirements of the electric water heating appliance by preheating water. Farmers should take a moment to look into this opportunity that could result in significant savings in their electric bill.”
Dairy farms use a significant amount of hot water ”“ roughly 2.5 gallons per cow per day ”“ in order to properly clean milking equipment. The hot water required for proper sanitation and equipment wash must be between 160° and 170°F, which is 20° to 30° degrees hotter than residential uses. While most medium to large dairies and other agricultural operations do not use electricity to meet their water heating needs, smaller dairies under 100 cows and small businesses usually do.
The program provides incentives of up to $4,000 per site for eligible residential customers and up to $25,000 per site for eligible commercial and nonprofit customers who currently use electricity to produce hot water. Farms and agricultural businesses that use electricity to produce hot water are eligible to participate in this program. As part of New York”™s renewable energy goals, the state”™s solar thermal target is to displace the equivalent of 45.54 megawatts of electrical use by the end of 2015.
“New York”™s first solar thermal incentive program will help agricultural operations, a critical segment of our economy, reduce their use of electricity from the grid and cut energy costs,” said Francis J. Murray Jr., President and CEO of NYSERDA. “Through this program, we are working to develop our clean energy economy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy security.”
If solar thermal technology is installed before December 31, 2012, agricultural operations are eligible to receive federal tax incentives in the form of a grant which will cover 30 percent of the installed costs, as well as, New York State incentives which will cover 25 percent of the installed system up to $5,000. When federal and state tax incentives are combined with this newly released NYSERDA program, incentives are expected to cover 70-75 percent of installed costs.
Incentives will be available only on approved solar thermal systems installed by NYSERDA-approved solar thermal installers. They will be granted first-come, first served, and applications will be accepted through December 31, 2015 or until the funds are fully committed, whichever comes first.
