Published: April 24, 2008 06:35 pm      

THURSDAY: The Erie County Legislature approved a resolution to remove sales tax from solar power equipment (6:36 p.m.)

BUFFALO — After almost a year of hammering out details, the Erie County Legislature passed an sales tax exemption for solar energy technology.

New York State has already amended the tax law to eliminating state sales and compensating use taxes from solar energy equipment and gave municipalities the option to do the same. After a public hearing on March 27, the county legislature decided to go ahead with its plan to do the same to bring some the investment in solar energy to Western New York, said Legislator Robert Reynolds, Jr., D-Hamburg.

“Over $70 million have been spent in New York state on solar energy, and less than 1.5 percent of that has been in Western New York,” Reynolds said.

Encouraging local investment in solar technology has more benefits than the obvious energy cost savings to home and business owners, Reynolds added. Growing demand will create new jobs for production and installation of the equipment. The solar panel operatrion will cut down on power use and hopefully lead to air quality improvements since less power will have to be produced using traditional coal-fired methods.

The improvements aren’t cheap, averaging $20,000 for a private home. But eliminating the 4.75 percent county sales tax on solar power-related items could also help local homeowners, schools and retailers apply for grants from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Reynolds said.

“That will help us get costs in line for business leaders and residents,” Reynolds said.

Majority Leader Maria Whyte, D-Buffalo, said the action will create ties between the legislature and County Executive Chris Collins’ administration, since Collins comes from a background of creating green buildings for his business ventures and is hopeful of bringing those approaches to the county. Newly-installed County Attorney Cheryl Green was a big help in getting the legislation together, furthering that line of cooperation, Reynolds said.

From green buildings to green parks, the legislature also approved a request from Collins to accept a donation of trees and saplings to be planted in county parks. Praxair, located in the Town of Tonawanda, is donating 40 trees as part of its Community Tree Planting Program and Treehaven Evergreen Nursery, located in Elma, are is donating 500 seedlings and 50 saplings as part of their on-going committment to community enhancement.

Legislator Michele Iannello, D-Kenmore, said donations like the one from Praxair show a promising trend toward public and private sector cooperation that will bring the county forward.

Contact reporter Daniel Pyeat 693-1000, ext. 158.