Independent solar advice in Albany
New York's best solar resource: 5.1 peak sun hours and $2.58/W. National Grid vs NYSEG explained. NYS 25% state credit. No federal residential credit in 2026.
The federal residential solar tax credit ended on December 31, 2025. We tell you the truth about what is left in 2026: which state programs still apply, and which financing paths can still capture federal value.
Electricity rate as of 2026-05-01. Sun hours: TurbineGenerator/NREL, Albany fixed-tilt annual average. Albany's 5.1 hrs/day is the highest annual average of the five New York cities profiled, slightly exceeding NYC (4.5) due to less coastal cloud cover and more continental climate days.. Cost per watt: EnergySage March 2026, Albany County. This is the lowest per-watt cost of the five NY cities profiled and below the statewide average of $2.75/W. Reflecting lower Albany-area labor costs, simpler permitting, and a competitive local installer market including GreenSpark Solar and Kasselman Solar.. Payback estimate assumes zero federal residential credit (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025) and current utility net-metering tariffs.
Your utility determines your savings
Albany metro is split between two utilities. National Grid serves most of the City of Albany and many surrounding suburbs; NYSEG serves portions of Albany County and adjacent counties including Rensselaer, Schenectady, and Saratoga. Both offer 1:1 retail net metering locked 20 years, but rates differ: National Grid customers pay approximately 18-21 cents/kWh; NYSEG customers currently pay 18-22 cents/kWh with a large rate increase pending PSC approval. Check your utility bill or look up your address at nationalgridus.com or nyseg.com before reviewing any solar proposal.
LADWP is a municipal utility exempt from the CPUC's NEM 3.0 mandate. Customers retain full retail 1:1 net energy metering. Every kilowatt-hour your solar system exports to the grid is credited at the retail rate you pay, estimated at 22 to 37 cents per kWh depending on usage tier.
Export credit: approximately 22 to 37 cents/kWh
Full retail 1:1 NEM. Verify at ladwp.com. Rate as of June 2026.
SCE customers are on the NEM 3.0 Solar Billing Plan, which took effect for new interconnections after April 2023. Under NEM 3.0, solar exports earn only 5 to 8 cents per kWh -- roughly 75 to 80 percent less than the retail rate. Battery storage becomes significantly more valuable for SCE customers: stored solar used during peak TOU hours at 35 to 40 cents per kWh avoids the most expensive grid purchases.
Export credit: approximately 5 to 8 cents/kWh (NEM 3.0)
Solar Billing Plan. Verify at sce.com/nem. Battery storage recommended for SCE territory.
Your address determines your utility. Look up your utility at ladwp.com or sce.com before reviewing any solar proposal. The net-metering difference affects your estimated annual savings by $1,000 to $1,500 on a typical 8 to 9 kW system.
Available programs
Federal residential solar credit (Section 25D): expired. The Section 25D residential investment tax credit expired December 31, 2025. The residential credit rate is 0%. State and local incentives below may still significantly reduce your net system cost. Commercial systems still qualify for Section 48E (30%).
| Program | Benefit | Eligibility | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany County Inclusive Community Solar Partnership Local/State Incentive | No-cost community solar subscriptions targeting Disadvantaged Community (DAC) areas. No rooftop installation required. Renters and homeowners both eligible. Program and enrollment status: verify at albanyny.gov/2314/Community-Solar or through Solarize Albany at solarizealbany.org. The Capital Region Clean Energy Hub (a NYSERDA initiative) connects residents to vetted contractors and financing. | Albany County residents, with priority for residents of designated Disadvantaged Communities. Launched in partnership with Solarize Albany and PowerMarket, supported by the Capital Region Clean Energy Hub. | Active | DSIRE (opens in new tab) |
| NYS Solar Energy System Equipment Credit (SESEC) Local/State Incentive | 25% of net system cost as a New York State income tax credit, capped at $5,000. Unused credit carries forward up to 5 years. No sunset date under current law. Proposed state legislation (April 2026) would double the cap from $5,000 to $10,000 and make it refundable for low-income taxpayers; pending as of June 2026. Albany's lower per-watt costs ($2.58/W) mean the $5,000 cap covers a larger share of system cost than in NYC. | NY state residents installing solar on their primary residence. Applies to purchased and leased systems. | Active | DSIRE (opens in new tab) |
| NYSERDA Battery Storage Rebate (Upstate) Local/State Incentive | $200 per kWh for qualifying battery storage systems in the Upstate National Grid or NYSEG territory. Rate as of June 2026; verify current Upstate territory rate at nyserda.ny.gov before purchase. | National Grid or NYSEG residential customers in the Albany area installing battery storage alongside or after solar. | Active | DSIRE (opens in new tab) |
| NY Real Property Tax Law Section 487 Exemption Local/State Incentive | 15-year exemption on the increased assessed value attributable to solar installation. Section 487 requires local municipality opt-in. Verify Albany city and county participation before relying on this exemption. | All NY homeowners where the local municipality has opted in to Section 487. Albany-area municipalities vary; verify by address. | Limited | DSIRE (opens in new tab) |
| NY-Sun Affordable Solar Residential Incentive (Low-Income Only) Local/State Incentive Funding is limited. Verify availability before signing. | $0.80 per watt upfront incentive for qualifying low-income households. Standard NY-Sun Megawatt Block is fully subscribed in both the National Grid Upstate and NYSEG regions as of December 17, 2025. Only income-qualified households remain eligible. Verify current availability at nyserda.ny.gov/ny-sun. | Households at or below 80% of Area Median Income. Standard-income blocks are CLOSED as of December 17, 2025. | Limited | DSIRE (opens in new tab) |
Data last verified June 29, 2026. Incentive programs change; verify current amounts and availability at dsireusa.org (opens in new tab) before committing to a project.
Why Albany homeowners are moving now
Albany is driving two intersecting solar stories in 2026. First, the New York Power Authority and the City of Albany co-announced a 1.5 MW ground-mounted solar project on the capped North Albany/Shaker Park landfill in 2025, a concrete brownfield-to-solar conversion under NYPA's REACH program designed to reduce energy costs for income-qualified Albany-area residents with an expected online date of 2027. Second, proposed state legislation announced in April 2026 would double the New York State Solar Energy System Equipment Credit cap from $5,000 to $10,000 and make it refundable for low-income taxpayers. Albany homeowners would disproportionately benefit from this change: at $2.58/W -- the lowest installed cost in the state -- the credit covers a larger percentage of gross system cost than in any other NY city. Both developments are generating elevated homeowner inquiries through Kasselman Solar and GreenSpark Solar, the two largest dedicated installers serving the Capital Region.
Source: NYPA/Albany 1.5MW North Albany landfill solar announced 2025; proposed SESEC cap doubling to $10,000 announced April 2026 (2025).
Illustrative example
Zero federal residential credit applied (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025). Figures are estimates based on market data as of 2026-06-29. Your numbers depend on your roof, your utility, and your bill.
A 13.11 kW system at $2.58/W costs approximately $33,824 before incentives. No federal residential credit applies in 2026 (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025). The NYS SESEC 25% state income tax credit reduces the bill by up to $5,000, bringing estimated net cost to approximately $28,824. Albany's 5.1 peak sun hours per day -- the highest in New York state -- means this system generates approximately 19,000-20,000 kWh annually. At a blended 21-cent rate for National Grid customers (NYSEG customers see 18-22 cents depending on territory), estimated annual bill savings run $1,900-$2,800. Estimated payback: 10-13 years. NYSEG customers should note: the pending 23.6% rate increase -- if approved by the PSC -- would accelerate this payback by an additional 1-2 years. Albany's combination of the state's highest sun hours and lowest installed cost creates the best fundamental solar economics of any upstate New York city.
Ready to see what solar works out to for your Albany home?
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Neighborhoods we serve
Established solar saturation; higher installers per block, active neighbor referrals, and permit history at LADBS.
Designated disadvantaged communities (DAC) eligible for SGIP equity resiliency, DAC-SASH, and other income-qualified programs. Income verification required.
Wildfire-affected and adjacent neighborhoods where battery storage demand surged following the January 2025 fires. Rebuilding homeowners and proximate neighbors with elevated grid-resilience priorities.
Permitting and interconnection
SolarAPP+ adoption is unconfirmed for the City of Albany as of June 2026. Over 300 New York municipalities have adopted the NYS Unified Solar Permit; Albany is included. Suburban Albany County municipalities (Guilderland, Colonie, Bethlehem) have their own building departments and may have different fee schedules.
Your local Albany advisor
[REVIEW TEXT - TO BE PROVIDED: real customer testimonial with bill comparison and Albany County solar economics context]
System: 13 kW rooftop solar, National Grid territory, SESEC credit applied
[REVIEW TEXT - TO BE PROVIDED: real customer testimonial mentioning Kasselman Solar or GreenSpark and Albany permitting]
System: 12.5 kW rooftop solar, National Grid territory
[REVIEW TEXT - TO BE PROVIDED: real customer testimonial from NYSEG-territory Albany County homeowner with note on which utility serves them]
System: 14 kW rooftop solar, NYSEG territory
For business owners and property managers
Albany's state government buildings, NYSERDA headquarters, and Capital Region commercial and institutional stock create a unique commercial solar environment. The federal Section 48E commercial investment tax credit (30% base for projects beginning construction by July 4, 2026) combined with National Grid and NYSEG commercial net metering creates a compelling opportunity for Albany-area business owners and property managers. C-PACE financing is available in New York state. The NYPA REACH program provides pathways for publicly owned facilities and brownfield properties to access solar with community benefit components.
See commercial solar optionsCommercial solar projects must begin construction by July 4, 2026 to qualify for the 30 percent Section 48E federal tax credit. After that date, the system must be placed in service by December 31, 2027.
Schedule a Free Commercial AssessmentAlbany solar questions
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