What You Need to Know About the Community Solar Program

The New York State Council of Churches can help you and your congregation and community save and even make money while saving the environment! NYSCOC encourages faith communities to do their part to protect the environment by evaluating their property and taking full advantage of the subsidies to install EV chargers in their parking lot, hardware (panels, heat pumps) and even credits for electric vehicle purchases through Inflation Reduction Act including Direct Pay. The program has no dollar limit and is approved through 2034. Not all faith communities can utilize these benefits. However, most faith communities can access community solar at no cost.

‍For Individuals

Sign up as an individual for community solar. Whether you are a renter or homeowner, you will save up to 10% off your electric bill. In addition, when you sign up, your faith community could receive up to $100. 

If you wish to fill out the form on paper and share it with others, click here for the individual sign up form. Then, email forms to Heather Smith, or reach out to either Andrew Pontius at 206-947-2246 or andrew@crauderueff.comor Heather Smith at 518-436-9319 or hsmith@nyscoc.org with questions. 

For Faith Communities 

1. We can sign up your congregation to save as much as 10% of its electric bill on its buildings by tapping into an existing solar field. 

and/or

2. Your congregational leadership can authorize the distribution of community solar sign up forms to parishioners and anyone in their municipality to save up to 10% on their personal electric bill - whether they are a renter or an owner.  For every person the congregation signs up, they would receive up to $100 . For example, if the church gets 30 parishioners/community members to sign up the congregation gets $3,000(must have at least 3 subscriptions in order for this to kick in)

If your congregation would like to get your building signed up for community solar and/or distribute forms to your parishioners to sign up, please use the signup form at this link and we will follow up.

We are currently negotiating solar contracts. While we started with in National Grid territory, we are expanding all the time. Please use the link above and we will put you on a waiting list if there is no availability in your area.

If you would like to speak with us to explain how it works, schedule a time to talk with Andrew further about any questions you may have at your convenience. You can also write to or call Andrew Pontius at 206-947-2246 | andrew@crauderueff.com or Heather Smith at 518-436-9319 | hsmith@nyscoc.org to answer question.