A Late Christmas 'tax extender' gift for Renewable Energy

The US Senate's "fiscal cliff" package wasn't exactly eight maids a-milking--the traditional gift for the eighth day of Christmas--though it did apparently resolve the impending "milk cliff".  Of greater relevance, the "tax extender" portion of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 passed by both the Senate and House of Representatives represented a gift to renewable energy producers and developers worth around $18 billion. 

Long Island firms win NY solar funding bids

New York state has awarded $30 million in incentives to 16 developers, including at least two based on Long Island, to finance large-scale photovoltaic projects in New York City and the lower Hudson Valley.

The funding, to be used to develop 34 megawatts of solar power expected to go online as of next year, was awarded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority through Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s NY-Sun initiative.

Island Park-based EmPower Solar CES and Southampton-based GreenLogic were awarded unspecified incentives in the forms of rebates to support projects. Mercury Solar Systems, which also has Long Island operations, also was approved for funding.