Requires the power authority of the state New York to conduct an analysis of the economic viability of certain electric generating facilities

Summary of provisions

Section 1 provides that the New York State Power Authority (NYPA) shall conduct an analysis of the current economic viability of base load producing electric generating facilities in Chautauqua, Tompkins and Niagara counties. Based on such analysis, and as deemed feasible and advisable by the NYPA board, the Board shall then recommend entering into a purchase power agreement with such facilities for at least three years.

Section 2 provides that power purchased by NYPA pursuant to such agreement with these facilities shall be considered Recharge New York power and shall be utilized to augment Recharge New York power allocations for eligible businesses.

Existing law

Chapter 60 of the laws of 2011 established the Recharge New York power allocation program.

Justification

This new bill would authorize the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to enter into a purchase power agreement between coal plants situated in Chautauqua and Niagara Counties and NYPA, using the purchased energy to supplement the state's Recharge NY program, which is designed to retain and create jobs through allocations of economic development incentives to employers.

Power plants in the state have faced enormous fiscal challenges recently. Due to the fact that the transmission lines in the state have not been given badly needed upgrades, plants have not been able to stay competitive and get their energy delivered to where it is needed in other parts of the state. Western New York power plants contribute significantly to the people and the economy of the region by employing hundreds of New Yorkers with high paying jobs and providing millions of dollars a year in direct benefits to the state and local economy. These facilities also pay millions of dollars in annual property taxes and payments in lieu of taxes agreements making them, in many areas, the largest taxpayer in the school districts and municipalities.

The economic benefits of annual labor payments and operational expenses of power plants, including locally-procured goods and

services, are multiplied across regions. This contribution makes a huge impact. For example, in Chautauqua County, the NRG power plant located in the City of Dunkirk contributes over $20 million in wages and $10 million in PILOT payments to the school, the city and county of Chautauqua, and well over $10 million in local goods and services.

Were any of these facilities to go under, or even be reduced in capacity by any significant margin, it would decimate the financial viability of the municipalities and school districts that are already facing difficult fiscal times.

This bill provides a temporary solution by allowing for NYPA to conduct an analysis of the minimum resources necessary to maintain plant operations and to possibly enter into a purchase power agreement with Western New York power plants to keep them in operation in the short term, while state leaders work together on a long term solution for our ailing power plant infrastructure. It will heir avoid the devastating impact of power plants shutting down and help to maintain the reliability of the power grid, while keeping jobs in New York.

It is critical that New York State maintains a variety of modes of power generation to ensure the reliability of the power grid. This legislation will help New York State to be energy self-sufficient. The coal plants in Chautauqua and Niagara Counties have just invested millions of dollars in the last few years in state-of-the-art clean burning technology to comply with federal Environmental Protection Agency regulations. For example, the NRG power plant in Dunkirk recently undertook $200 million in clean coal burning technology upgrades. These state-of-the-art upgrades ensure that the state's energy needs will be met in the face of unpredictable energy prices and changing demand for other modes of electricity generation.

The ReCharge NY program is a successful economic development program that retains and creates jobs by providing low-cost electricity to attract new businesses and encourage existing firms and not-for-profit organizations to stay and grow in the state. Under the Recharge NY program, when businesses in the state make capital investments that support the regional economic development priorities in the state, they are awarded contracts based on their commitments. This legislation utilizes the success of the ReCharge NY program and further ensures the goals of regional economic development and job retention in western New York are realized, while helping to avoid the economic catastrophe should these power plants shut down.

Prior legislative history

2012: S.6842,A./A.9873A Referred to Energy and Telecommunications

Effective date

Immediate.