Application Guidelines for Community Solar

Southampton Town Community Solar Program
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Please Read Carefully

I.  Program Description
Southampton Town is developing community distributed generation (CDG) projects. The first of which is a community solar project currently under development at the North Sea Transfer Station. 

Eligible applicants will be offered PSEGLI bill credits equal to 10% of their annual electric bill. These bill credits are expected to begin a few months after the CDG project becomes operational. 

The bill credits associated with the North Sea Community Solar Project are expected to continue for 20 years, begin in 2024, and end in 2044. Example: if the community solar subscriber’s average monthly PSEGLI electric bill = $200, the benefit is expected to be: $20/month, $240/year, for a total of $4800 over 20 years.

Only one application per residential PSEGLI account is allowed. Applicants must meet program eligibility requirements. Once the applicant has met the program eligibility requirements, they will be placed on the lottery ranking list. There is no charge to apply, nor is there any fee associated with the benefits this program provides its subscribers.

Each CDG project can support a limited number of applications, a lottery will be scheduled, and Low-Middle Income (LMI) households will be given priority. The Town of Southampton Housing and Community Development Department will be responsible for determining applicant LMI eligibility concerning the North Sea Community Solar Project under the program guidelines.

II.  Program Eligibility
To be eligible to participate in the Program, an applicant must be a Southampton Town resident, a PSEGLI customer, and must meet all program requirements as described in these Guidelines. Applicants who qualify as Low-Moderate Income (LMI) will have priority in the lottery ranking. 

a) Low-Moderate Income (LMI) Guidelines, otherwise skip to (b):
LMI eligible households are those with income that does not exceed 80% of the area medium income for Nassau/Suffolk Counties Average-Middle Income (AMI) as determined by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):

2022 Maximum allowable income at 80% AMI: 

Income limits may be adjusted annually based on the HUD established Nassau/Suffolk median household income. 

1 Two years tax returns may be required. Any person whose earnings will be used to qualify for the program will be required to sign a ‘4506’ tax release form to verify their tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service.  (AGI) Adjusted gross income

If tax returns are requested to verify LMI eligibility, submit documents to:

Town of Southampton
Housing and Community Development
Attention: Community Solar Program
116 Hampton Rd
Southampton NY 11968     

b) Housing Type: 
Applicants must be homeowners, renters, or a small business with a residential PSEGLI account.

c) Residency Requirement 
Applicants who are homeowners or renters must occupy the property as their primary residence. 

d) Restrictions 
Applicants with an installed solar system metered by PSEGLI are excluded from this program. 

e) Form Submittal
Households interested in participating in the program must complete this online form. 

III. Subscriber Selection
Enrollment is open now. LMI qualified applicants will be prioritized in the lottery. All other applicants will remain in the lottery ranking for all Community Distributed Generation (CDG) projects. 

Application Form 

IV. NON-DISCRIMINATION 
Southampton Town shall not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, familial status, source of income, religion, disability, veterans’ status, age, or any other basis prohibited by law. 

LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY and ACCOMMODATIONS 
Application Form and Program Guidelines are available in other languages thru the Translate Button on the website home page. www.southamptontownny.gov

Southampton Town will take reasonable steps to ensure that persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and persons, who have a limited ability to speak, read, or write English, or otherwise need assistance, will have meaningful access and an equal opportunity to participate in the Program.

Disclaimer:
The Town provides this information as a public service only and does not warrant any potential benefit to any individual rate payer.  The Town is not responsible for the operation and/or management of any CDG Host project, is not a party to any agreement between the CDG Host and the customer, nor warrants either expressly or implied, the validity of any such agreement. The Town makes no claims, guarantees nor warranties of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy of any information given by the CDG Host and/or LIPA/PSEGLI to the rate payer and neither the Town nor its affiliates, employees or agents shall be liable for any loss or injury caused in whole or in part by enrollment in this program and/or use of this third-party CDG Host nor are they liable for any issues or disputes that may arise thereby.

It is understood that this is not an offer, and that terms and conditions may be changed at any time by the Town of Southampton, and Affiliates. It is further understood that notices by the Town of Southampton, and Affiliates may be made in such manner as Town of Southampton, and Affiliates may determine, including solely by advertisement. It is also understood that entry into the lottery is not a guarantee that you will be enrolled in a CDG project and receive bill credits. 

Glossary and Other Instructions

1. Applicant - Town of Southampton resident or small business who submits an application.
2. Subscriber - Applicant who has signed paperwork with CDG Host.
3. Enrolled - Subscriber becomes enrolled once they are receiving bill credits associated with the community solar project they are subscribed to.
4. AGI – Adjusted Gross Income
5. AMI – Area Medium Income
6. CDG – Community Distributed Generation
7. CDG Host – Community solar project developer.
8. HUD - US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
9. LMI - Low-Moderate Income.
10. LMI Eligible - Households with income that does not exceed 80% of the area medium income for Nassau/Suffolk Counties (AMI) as determined by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
11. Rate Payer – PSEGLI customer

Email questions to: CommunitySolar@southamptontownny.gov