Expands the products which may be purchased for public use

11 Co-sponsors

• Antoine M. Thompson
• Ruth Hassell-Thompson
• Craig M. Johnson
• Jeffrey D. Klein
• Liz Krueger
• Velmanette Montgomery
• George Onorato
• Suzi Oppenheimer
• John L. Sampson
• Toby Ann Stavisky
• Thomas K. Duane

Title of bill

An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to expanding the products which may be purchased for public use

Purpose or general idea of bill

Encourage the use of renewable energy by local governments

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1: Includes renewable energy, as defined by the New York State Public Service Commission to mean solar, wind, photovoltaics, tidal, geothermal, fuel cell technologies and low-impact, run-of-river hydroelectric electric generating equipment with capacity up to thirty megawatts with no new storage impoundment.

Section 2: Defines "reasonably competitive" to state that the cost of the recycled product or, if at least fifty percent of the secondary materials utilized in the manufacture of that product are generated from the waste stream in New York state, the cost of the recycled product does not exceed a cost premium of fifteen percent above the cost of a comparable product that is not recycled by product; or

Section 2 ii: that the cost of the renewable energy resource does not exceed a cost premium of fifteen percent above the cost of a comparable product that is not a renewable energy resource.

Justification

Under the General Municipal Law, products which are bought for public use must be bought from the lowest bid. However, under Section 104-a, recycled products can be purchased for public use even if they are not the lowest prices product. As the law currently stands, energy is not included under Section 104-a. However, the aim of the original law was to promote environmentally friendly purchasing of environmentally friendly products, therefore it makes sense to include renewable energy. Allowing localities to purchase renewable energy at a slightly higher premium, in lieu of a cheaper but less ecologically sound form of energy, is a logical continuation of the current state policy.

Prior legislative history

New Bill

Fiscal implications

Allows localities to purchase renewable energy. No fiscal impact upon the state.

Effective date

January 1 after the bill becomes law. However, the authority to add, amend or repeal the rules or regulations is granted immediately in order that the necessary changes can be made and completed by the effective date.