Cornell Cooperative Extension

Chemung County
Construction Services (CONSTR) staff install solar panels on the roof of the Human Ecology Building in 2015.
Image by Lindsay France

Construction staff install solar panels on the roof of the Human Ecology Building in 2015.

A new solar collector system installed atop Guterman Research Center uses innovative mirror technology to capture sunlight and turn it into thermal energy that will help heat the facility’s water distribution network.
Image by Lindsay France

A solar collector system installed atop Guterman Research Center.

Cooperative Extension (CCE) Energy Warriors, from left, Laura Komor, Marjorie Olds, Aloja Airewele and Cheryl Starcher Ceresna.
Image by Jason Koski

Cooperative Extension (CCE) Energy Warriors, from left, Laura Komor, Marjorie Olds, Aloja Airewele and Cheryl Starcher Ceresna.

Roasting marshmallows with solar heat at the 2012 Spring Fest celebration on Ho Plaza.
Image by Robert Barker

Roasting marshmallows with solar heat at the 2012 Spring Fest celebration on Ho Plaza.

Solar Energy

Cornell Cooperative Extension provides consumers with unbiased, research-based information to enable them to make informed decisions for themselves and their families. In this section, you will find information on solar energy that may help you to decide whether solar is right for you and your home.

For more information on state incentives, as well as general information about solar, visit NYSERDA's NY-Sun program site. There, you can also find information about how the solar credits show up on your electric bill.

And remember, even if you rent your home or apartment, or the home you own is completely shaded, you can go solar. More information is available on our Community Shared Solar page.

undefinedSustainability Management Specialist Sarah Zemanick leads a tour at the 2014 opening of the Cornell Solar Farm on Snyder Road.

Resources

Ever wonder what solar panels are made of? Check out CCE Tioga County's Solar Energy FAQs.

Are you a farmer who wants to learn more about the possibility of solar energy on your farm? This farmer solar decision matrix is a helpful guide with information from if your land is suitable for solar panels, to tax implications, to consulting with an attorney.

This article reviews more questions farmers should ask when considering leasing their land to solar developers.

What is solar grazing? Learn more here from CCE Tioga County.

Interested in knowing more about if your community is eligible for solar development? This guide is a general solar decision matrix for municipalities.

Solar panels on the roof of CCE Tompkins

About Solar Energy

Solar energy is simply energy derived from the sun, which we can then convert to electricity or thermal energy. Since sunlight is relatively infinite, solar energy is one of our most promising renewable resources.

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Solar installation

Residential and Small Commercial Solar

For the typical electricity needs of homeowners, a solar panel system can potentially supply between 70 and 110% of energy demand - the excess of which can be sent back to the grid, allowing you to receive solar credit.

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Solar water heating on roof in Washington, D.C.

Solar Thermal Systems

Solar thermal systems convert solar radiation to thermal energy. A solar water heater can meet 90-100% of your hot water needs in the summer.

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solar farm; rows of solar panels on a hill side

Solar Land Leasing

If you own land you would like to lease, consider the installation of a solar farm. Solar developers are contacting farmers and landowners in NY State to secure secure long-term land leases on 10 to 30 acre parcels.

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2 men on a roof installing a solar panel

Finding Installers

To be eligible for incentives and financing through NYSERDA, you must choose a participating contractor to install your solar system. Learn more about finding a contractor here.

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Household electric meter, USA

Net Metering

Net metering is the mechanism by which you get credit for the power your solar system produces. Whenever the sun is shining on them, your solar panels are producing power.

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Last updated February 3, 2025

Solar Energy

Notable Quotes

“We are like tenant farmers, chopping down the fence around our house for fuel, when we should be using nature’s inexhaustible sources of energy: sun, wind, and tide. I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.”

Thomas Edison, 1931

CCE SOLAR WORKSHOP SERIES

Interested in more information about solar energy? Please visit links to CCE of Chemung County's 2023 Solar Workshop Series below.

Session One

Session Two

Session Three

Upcoming: Community Roundtables Advancing Agrivoltaics in New York

There is an upcoming series of community roundtables on "Advancing Agrivoltaics in New York". Registration can be found here if you are interested in attending (in person events only).