487 - Exemption from taxation for certain solar or wind energy systems or farm waste energy systems.
§ 487. Exemption from taxation for certain solar or wind energy systems or farm waste energy systems. 1. As used in this section: (a) "Solar or wind energy equipment" means collectors, controls, energy storage devices, heat pumps and pumps, heat exchangers, windmills, and other materials, hardware or equipment necessary to the process by which solar radiation or wind is (i) collected, (ii) converted into another form of energy such as thermal, electrical, mechanical or chemical, (iii) stored, (iv) protected from unnecessary dissipation and (v) distributed. It does not include pipes, controls, insulation or other equipment which are part of the normal heating, cooling, or insulation system of a building. It does include insulated glazing or insulation to the extent that such materials exceed the energy efficiency standards required by law. (b) "Solar or wind energy system" means an arrangement or combination of solar or wind energy equipment designed to provide heating, cooling, hot water, or mechanical, chemical, or electrical energy by the collection of solar or wind energy and its conversion, storage, protection and distribution. (c) "Authority" means the New York state energy research and development authority. (d) "Incremental cost" means the increased cost of a solar or wind energy system or farm waste energy system or component thereof which also serves as part of the building structure, above that for similar conventional construction, which enables its use as a solar or wind energy or farm waste energy system or component. (e) "Farm waste electric generating equipment" means equipment that generates electric energy from biogas produced by the anaerobic digestion of agricultural waste, such as livestock manure, farming waste and food processing wastes with a rated capacity of not more than four hundred kilowatts that is (i) manufactured, installed and operated in accordance with applicable government and industry standards, (ii) connected to the electric system and operated in conjunction with an electric corporation's transmission and distribution facilities, (iii) operated in compliance with the provisions of section sixty-six-j of the public service law, (iv) fueled at a minimum of ninety percent on an annual basis by biogas produced from the anaerobic digestion of agricultural waste such as livestock manure materials, crop residues and food processing wastes, and (v) fueled by biogas generated by anaerobic digestion with at least seventy-five percent by weight of its feedstock being livestock manure materials on an annual basis. (f) "Farm waste energy system" means an arrangement or combination of farm waste electric generating equipment or other materials, hardware or equipment necessary to the process by which agricultural waste biogas is produced, collected, stored, cleaned, and converted into forms of energy such as thermal, electrical, mechanical or chemical and by which the biogas and converted energy are distributed on-site. It does not include pipes, controls, insulation or other equipment which are part of the normal heating, cooling or insulation system of a building. 2. Real property which includes a solar or wind energy system or farm waste energy system approved in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be exempt from taxation to the extent of any increase in the value thereof by reason of the inclusion of such solar or wind energy system or farm waste energy system for a period of fifteen years. When a solar or wind energy system or components thereof or farm waste energy system also serve as part of the building structure, the increase in value which shall be exempt from taxation shall be equal to the assessed value attributable to such system or components multiplied bythe ratio of the incremental cost of such system or components to the total cost of such system or components. 3. The president of the authority shall provide definitions and guidelines for the eligibility for exemption of the solar and wind energy equipment and systems and farm waste energy equipment and systems described in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision one of this section. 4. No solar or wind energy system or farm waste energy system shall be entitled to any exemption from taxation under this section unless such system meets the guidelines set by the president of the authority and all other applicable provisions of law. 5. The exemption granted pursuant to this section shall only be applicable to solar or wind energy systems or farm waste energy systems which are (a) existing or constructed prior to July first, nineteen hundred eighty-eight or (b) constructed subsequent to January first, nineteen hundred ninety-one and prior to January first, two thousand fifteen. 6. Such exemption shall be granted only upon application by the owner of the real property on a form prescribed and made available by the state board in cooperation with the authority. The applicant shall furnish such information as the board shall require. The application shall be filed with the assessor of the appropriate county, city, town or village on or before the taxable status date of such county, city, town or village. A copy of such application shall be filed with the authority. 7. If the assessor is satisfied that the applicant is entitled to an exemption pursuant to this section, he or she shall approve the application and enter the taxable assessed value of the parcel for which an exemption has been granted pursuant to this section on the assessment roll with the taxable property, with the amount of the exemption as computed pursuant to subdivision two of this section in a separate column. In the event that real property granted an exemption pursuant to this section ceases to be used primarily for eligible purposes, the exemption granted pursuant to this section shall cease. 8. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision two of this section, a county, city, town or village may by local law or a school district, other than a school district to which article fifty-two of the education law applies, may by resolution provide that no exemption under this section shall be applicable within its jurisdiction with respect to any solar or wind energy system or farm waste energy system constructed subsequent to January first, nineteen hundred ninety-one or the effective date of such local law, ordinance or resolution, whichever is later. A copy of any such local law or resolution shall be filed with the state board and with the president of the authority. 9. (a) A county, city, town, village or school district, except a school district under article fifty-two of the education law, that has not acted to remove the exemption under this section may require the owner of a property which includes a solar or wind energy system which meets the requirements of subdivision four of this section, to enter into a contract for payments in lieu of taxes. Such contract may require annual payments in an amount not to exceed the amounts which would otherwise be payable but for the exemption under this section. (b) The payment in lieu of a tax agreement shall not operate for a period of more than fifteen years, commencing in each instance from the date on which the benefits of such exemption first become available and effective.