4 Myths About Community Solar Farms: Debunked

False. 

Most solar farms are built on so-called brownfield sites: Unproductive, rocky soil or ledge or quarries or on the side of hills that are difficult to farm. Rarely do families sell or lease good, fertile farms for community solar.

But sometimes trees need to be taken down. 

And when they are people ask, “Don’t the trees absorb more carbon dioxide than the solar farms offset with clean energy?”

Actually, the opposite is true.  20 acres of solar panels produce about 3,600 megawatts of electricity each year, enough to offset the carbon-based electricity usage of 350 households. 

By contrast, 20 acres of trees absorb about 260 tons of carbon or the amount of carbon emitted by 26 homes.  

In other words, 20 acres of solar farms offset about 14 times as much as 20 acres of trees would absorb. 

With solar panels producing electricity for 40-50 years, the environmental benefits of solar farms are dramatic.

And when the average homeowner in New York uses enough electricity every year to create the carbon emission equivalent of burning 9,771 pounds of coal -- every little bit counts.

Solar energy. We’ve all heard about it, 

especially as New York pushes to make electricity production 100% renewable by 2040.

But with solar technology rapidly improving in recent years, 

what still holds true?

We did some digging to find out.

False.

Installing solar panels on your roof can be expensive -- not only do the rooftop solar panels require a high up-front investment, but they can also cause you headaches from maintenance, roof leaks, property taxes, and problems when it comes time to sell your home.  

By contrast, with Community Solar Farms the solar panels are placed at an offsite location (not on your rooftop), and your savings are steady and guaranteed without any upfront or maintenance costs whatsoever. 

In addition, unlike rooftop, there are no upfront costs since you are not installing panels in your home, and if you move or change your mind you can cancel the month to month program at any time without penalty.

Sounds too good to be true, right? Let’s see why it is possible…

Solar Farms New York develops solar farms in local communities and delivers the electricity made from renewable solar energy into the grid operated by New York State Electric and Gas Corporation (“NYSEG”). You get a credit on your NYSEG bill for the dollar value of that solar electricity charges allocated to your account, reducing the amount of money you pay NYSEG for electricity.  Then the savings begin! You pay Solar Farms New York 5% less than the dollar amount credited to you by NYSEG, saving you money every month.

In other words, instead of NYSEG paying for the solar farm’s electricity production, you do -- at a 5% discount to its value.

You can never spend more money because you don’t pay until after you save. 

Everyone in the community benefits from solar, but only the farms’ members enjoy the savings.

There is also no cost to become a member other than 5 minutes of your time – it is simply a matter of eligibility. If you are a NYSEG customer, use more than 1000 kilowatt-hours per year (about the usage of an outhouse with a lightbulb), and don’t already have solar on your roof… you’re probably eligible!

False. 

That’s because solar panels produce electricity even when it’s cloudy or when they’re covered with light snow.

Your savings are guaranteed and not weather dependent, even when it rains or is cloudy. After all, you only pay for the solar energy allocated to your account at a 5% discount, month after month

False. 

New Yorkers are sick and tired of Energy Service Companies ("ESCOs") harassing them with phone calls and promising savings on electricity supply. Too often these supply deals are “bait and switch” scams; save a little money today and get tricked later.

Solar Farms New York is NOT an ESCO supply company and is not associated with any large energy company. Members don’t get their electricity directly from the farms -- they continue to get their electricity from NYSEG. The community solar farms feed into the NYSEG grid which benefits everybody. But only members get the savings and enjoy a 5% discount from Solar Farms New York every month.

Unlike ESCO supply, you only pay AFTER you receive a solar allocation and your 5% discount from Solar Farms New York to your account. Your payments are due only after you see the credit for solar energy on your NYSEG account. 

Another benefit to community solar is that there is no cost to cancel. Unlike ESCOs, which often charge exit fees, Solar Farms New York allows you to cancel any time without penalty.  

And unlike rooftop solar, there is no long term 20-year commitment. Your commitment is really just month-to-month.

“The residents of New York have been burned by big energy companies time and time again -- they have a right to not trust another energy company. That’s why at Solar Farms New York, we make sure that our members receive their solar allocation and credits on their NYSEG bill before they receive a statement from Solar Farms New York. That way we and members will be able to see that savings are guaranteed, said Jeffrey Mayer, CEO of Solar Farms New York. What’s more, there are no penalties for early cancellation: We want to make sure that our customers are not locked into something they don’t want. That is why we have been able to withhold our A rating from Better Business Bureau.”

Interested in becoming a member of a local community solar farm project? 

Over 10,813 residents in NYSEG Zones already joined Solar Farms New York Community Farms program.

Rather than using solar rooftop panels which are costly and can make it harder to sell your home, community solar farms cost nothing to join and nothing to leave.

That said, current availability is limited -- unlike a major power plant, each farm serves exclusively the local community and therefore can only support a few hundred homes.

Solar Farms New York reports that a recent surge in demand from NYSEG County Residents has reduced the number of available spots.

"Other companies make no secret that the energy from their monstrous “farms” mostly goes elsewhere. Community solar benefits local people!!"

- Lyn, Owls Head Resident 

For a limited time, Solar Farms New York is providing new members who sign up online with a $50 Gift VISA Card as a welcome bonus.

To get started, you simply need to register your NYSEG account number along with other household information. If you have questions about the program and whether your home qualifies, or you just prefer speaking to a human. Call the member services team at (855) 401-5847.

Myth 1: Switching to Solar is Expensive

Myth 4: Solar Farms Cause More Harm Than Good to the Environment

Myth 2: It Rains Too Much in Upstate for Solar to Make Sense

Myth 3: Community Solar is just Another Scam with Phony Savings

*Not all homes qualify - click the button to see if yours does.

*Not all homes qualify - click the button to see if yours does.

(Limited Availability)

*Not all homes qualify - click the button to see if yours does.

Interested in becoming a member of a local community solar farm project?

*Not all homes qualify - click the button to see if yours does.