What's happening
This bill creates a tax credit for individuals who install geothermal energy systems in their New York principal residences.
Why it matters
Encourages investment in clean energy. By offering a 25% tax credit (up to $5,000) for installing geothermal systems, the bill directly incentivizes homeowners to adopt renewable heating and cooling, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions in New York.
Flexible support for different ownership models. The credit applies not only to outright purchases but also to long-term leases and power purchase agreements (10 years or more), making geothermal upgrades accessible to a wider range of homeowners, including those who may not be able to afford upfront installation costs.
Promotes community and shared housing benefits. The bill allows condominium residents and co-op shareholders to claim a proportionate share of the credit if their association or corporation installs a qualifying system, extending the incentive to multi-family housing and encouraging broader adoption.
Practical financial relief and planning. If the tax credit exceeds an individual’s tax liability, unused portions can be carried forward for up to five years, ensuring that homeowners can fully benefit from the incentive even if their tax burden is relatively low in a given year.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Geothermal Energy Tax Credit
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Print number 254a
- Amend and recommit to investigations and government operations
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to investigations and government operations
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Geothermal Energy Tax Credit
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Sean Ryan
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
254--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sens. KENNEDY, METZGER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations -- recommitted to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to establishing a credit for geothermal energy systems
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 606 of the tax law is amended by adding a new subsection (g-3) to read as follows:
(g-3) Geothermal energy systems credit. (1) General. An individual taxpayer shall be allowed a credit against the tax imposed by this article equal to twenty-five percent of qualified geothermal energy system expenditures, except as provided in subparagraph (D) of paragraph two of this subsection. This credit shall not exceed five thousand dollars for a qualified geothermal energy system placed in service on or after September first, two thousand twenty.
(2) Qualified geothermal energy systems expenditures. (A) The term "qualified geothermal energy system expenditures" means expenditures for:
(i) the purchase of geothermal energy system equipment which is installed in connection with residential property which is (I) located in this state and (II) which is used by the taxpayer as his or her principal residence at the time the geothermal energy system equipment is placed in service;
(ii) the lease of geothermal energy system equipment under a written agreement that spans at least ten years where such equipment owned by a person other than the taxpayer is installed in connection with residen-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05723-02-0
S. 254--A 2
tial property which is (I) located in this state and (II) which is used by the taxpayer as his or her principal residence at the time the geothermal energy system equipment is placed in service; or
(iii) the purchase of power under a written agreement that spans at least ten years whereunder the power purchased is generated by geothermal energy system equipment owned by a person other than the taxpayer which is installed in connection with residential property which is (I) located in this state and (II) used by the taxpayer as his or her principal residence at the time the geothermal energy system equipment is placed in service.
(B) Such qualified expenditures shall include expenditures for materials, labor costs properly allocable to on-site preparation, assembly and original installation, architectural and engineering services, and designs and plans directly related to the construction or installation of the geothermal energy system equipment.
(C) Such qualified expenditures for the purchase of geothermal energy system equipment shall not include interest or other finance charges.
(D) Such qualified expenditures for the lease of geothermal energy system equipment or the purchase of power under an agreement described in clause (ii) or (iii) of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall include an amount equal to all payments made during the taxable year under such agreement. Provided, however, such credits shall only be allowed for fourteen years after the first taxable year in which such credit is allowed. Provided further, however, the twenty-five percent limitation in paragraph one of this subsection shall only apply to the total aggregate amount of all payments to be made pursuant to an agreement referenced in clause (ii) or (iii) of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, and shall not apply to individual payments made during a taxable year under such agreement except to the extent such limitation on an aggregate basis has been reached.
(3) Geothermal energy system equipment. The term "geothermal energy system equipment" shall mean a system whose original use begins with the taxpayer; which meets the eligibility criteria, if any, prescribed by the department; and which is a ground coupled solar thermal system that utilizes the solar thermal energy stored in the ground or in bodies of water to produce heat, and which is commonly known as or referred to as a ground source heat pump system.
(4) Multiple taxpayers. Where geothermal energy system equipment is purchased and installed in a principal residence shared by two or more taxpayers, the amount of the credit allowable under this subsection for each such taxpayer shall be prorated according to the percentage of the total expenditure for such geothermal energy system equipment contributed by each taxpayer.
(5) Proportionate share. Where geothermal energy system equipment is purchased and installed by a condominium management association or a cooperative housing corporation, a taxpayer who is a member of the condominium management association or who is a tenant-stockholder in the cooperative housing corporation may for the purpose of this subsection claim a proportionate share of the total expense as the expenditure for the purposes of the credit attributable to his principal residence.
(6) Grants. For purposes of determining the amount of the expenditure incurred in purchasing and installing geothermal energy system equipment, the amount of any federal, state or local grant received by the taxpayer, which was used for the purchase and/or installation of such equipment and which was not included in the federal gross income of the taxpayer, shall not be included in the amount of such expenditures.
S. 254--A 3
(7) When credit allowed. The credit provided for herein shall be allowed with respect to the taxable year, commencing after two thousand twenty-one, in which the geothermal energy system equipment is placed in service.
(8) Carryover of credit. If the amount of the credit, and carryovers of such credit, allowable under this subsection for any taxable year shall exceed the taxpayer's tax for such year, such excess amount may be carried over to the five taxable years next following the taxable year with respect to which the credit is allowed and may be deducted from the taxpayer's tax for such year or years.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to taxable years commencing on and after January 1, 2021.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the tax law, in relation to establishing a credit for geothermal energy systems
Purpose or general idea of the bill
This bill establishes a tax credit for the purchase and installation of geothermal energy systems.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 606 of the tax law is amended by adding a new subsection (g-3) to extend tax credits to cover the purchase and installation costs of geothermal energy systems.
Justification
Geothermal energy systems provide natural and renewable energy. The systems do not require the burning of fossil fuels and emit almost no carbon gases. They are efficient and much better for the environment than are conventional methods of supplying heat to buildings. Allowing a tax credit will increase the use of geothermal energy systems. This will create more green jobs and reduce the amount of carbon used to heat buildings.
Prior legislative history
Veto 260 of 2015 Veto 253 of 2016 S.1750 of 2017-18
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
Immediately and shall apply to taxable years commencing on and after January 1, 2021.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.