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History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Authorizes the lease of lands adjacent to state, public authority and local highways for operation of wind or solar electric generating systems
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Steven Englebright
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S1837
Title of bill
An act to amend the highway law, in relation to authorizing the leasing of land adjacent to state and local highways for the purpose of the construction and operation of solar and wind electric generating systems; and to amend the public authorities law, in relation to granting such authorization to the metropolitan transportation authority
Purpose
To authorize the lease of lands adjacent to state and county highways for operation of wind or solar electric generating systems.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends Section 10 of the highway law by adding a new subdivision 38-a.
Section 2 amends Section 102 of the highway law by adding a new subdivision 19.
Section 3 amends Section 140 of the highway law by adding a new subdivision 20.
Justification
This legislation will help to spur economic opportunities in alternative energy as well as energy independence by creating a mechanism for the leasing of lands adjacent to state and county highways for operation of wind or solar electric generating systems.
Other states have already pioneered the use of highway right of ways for siting alternative solar energy generating systems. In 2008, the State of Oregon installed the country's first solar project in a highway right of way. The project consists of a 104 kW solar photovoltaic system that covers 8,000 square feet- roughly the length of two football fields- and produces 112,000 kwh each year. The solar panels produce electricity during the day, giving the power to the PGE grid, and getting the equivalent amount of power back at night from PGE to power lighting on the highway. Electricity for the highway interchange is provided by PGE and the added solar power is handled through a net metering arrangement A live monitoring log is at: http://www.live.declunonitoring.com/?id=solarhighway
Sacramento Municipal Utility District in California will also be building solar arrays along state highways, starting with a 1.5-megawatt project along Highway 50. This solar highway project received $5 million in federal funding in January 2010, authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
New technologies also exist for solar panels that double as sound walls reducing highway noise near residential neighborhoods. Solar sound bathers are in used in Switzerland, Germany and Australia.
Legislative history
2013-14: S.401/A.5623 Referred to transportation
Fiscal implications
No fiscal implications.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.