The Westchester County Board of Legislators Monday approved a county sales tax exemption for solar energy systems installed in commercial buildings.
The unanimously approved law broadens the county sales tax exemption for residential solar equipment first approved in 2007 by legislators and renewed in 2011. The new law, which requires the signature of County Executive Robert P. Astorino to take effect, will cover all new solar equipment installations in the county.
“The best way to support solar-based business is to make installations more economically viable,” Legislator Catherine Borgia, the Ossining Democrat who proposed the legislation, said in a press release. “Having accomplished this for county residents, it made perfect sense to extend this financial benefit to county business owners and commercial enterprises as well.
Borgia said the bill “supports the county”™s green economy and creates new jobs, provides opportunities for Westchester businesses to see long-term savings on energy costs and reduces greenhouse gases caused during the production of electricity.”
The incentive program is projected to cost the county about $40,000 per year in lost sales tax revenue. The average savings to each Westchester business converting to a solar energy system will be more than $1,000, according to county officials.
“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 Board of Legislators Majority Leader Peter Harckham.
