Overview
New York State Homes and Community Renewal is committed to aligning the development and preservation of affordable housing with the ambitious goal of 85% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2050, as outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). The development of Solar Programs by HCR emphasizes the role that Solar Photovoltaics (PV) will play in the transition from fossil fuels to electrifying the State’s affordable housing. On-site Solar PV development is supported through several state and federal incentives, funding, and technical assistance.
Solar Evaluation Tool
The HCR Solar Evaluation Tool (SET) program is a technical assistance program designed to help affordable housing project teams understand the solar incentive landscape and provide a tool to assess their development projects for solar viability early in design. The program includes both a financial analysis tool (SET) AND direct access to a solar technical assistant who will provide project level assistance, including:
- Preliminary solar design
- Preliminary solar financial analysis
- Assistance with solar bidding and installer procurement
- General solar questions
Solar Evaluation Tool
The HCR Solar Evaluation Tool (SET) was developed to help project teams assess solar viability at a project early in design. To complete the tool, development teams will fill in key project information requiring no solar expertise. HCR will use the information project teams submit to design a preliminary solar layout and generate outputs from the Solar Evaluation Tool for the applicant. Completion of the tool will provide project teams with key information to determine the financial viability of solar for a cost including upfront cost (or savings), payback period, rate of return, lifetime net savings, and cumulative cash flow of the solar project.
Click here for the SET Tool:
Multifamily Solar Fund Program
In partnership with NYSERDA, HCR will administer available solar funding to the awarded 2025 9% RFP projects and the eligible pipeline of HFA 4% LIHTC and subsidy-only projects with scheduled closings within the 2026 calendar year, until all funds have been awarded.
The HCR Multifamily Solar Fund provides direct financial assistance for on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for both existing and new multifamily buildings that meet eligibility requirements outlined in the program term sheet.
The Multifamily Solar Fund has two primary goals:
1. Help affordable housing development projects already in HCR’s pipeline capture available federal tax incentives while they remain available.
2. Reduce long-term operating expenses and guard against unknown electricity rates.
Awards will be sized using the Solar Evaluation Tool (SET) and at a fixed per kW incentive rate, as noted in the program term sheet, or unless otherwise communicated directly by HCR. *
Multifamily Solar Fund awarded projects are NOT eligible to receive the NY-Sun incentive in addition to the HCR MF Solar program.
Multifamily Solar Fund awards are subject to availability of funding.
*Projects that received a Notice of Eligibility for Solar funding in 2025 from HTFC or HFA.
See below for the Multifamily Solar Fund term sheet
Solar for All Funding
HCR's Solar For All (SFA) Program is currently paused for applications. Please check back later for further information.
Resources
Case Studies
Frequently Asked Questions
Training Videos
*Previously named SOS tool, now named Solar Evaluation Tool, or SET. Please email [email protected] with any questions.