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Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
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.
Expands the definition of major utility transmission facility to include certain facilities in which electric current is transformed
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Richard Gottfried
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to the siting of electric substations
Purpose or general idea of the bill
Provides for a review by the Public Service Commission of the siting of electric substations.
Summary of specific provisions
The bill amends Article VII of the Public Service Law ("Siting of Transmission Facilities") to include "a facility in which electric current is transformed from the transmission system to the distribution system or a facility within the distribution system that is larger than five hundred square feet and in which electric current is transformed" within the definition of a "transmission facility." This would extend all the requirements of Article VII to electric substations.
Article VII sets out a procedure for the granting of a certificate of environmental capability and public need before a facility can be built. This procedure includes environmental impact studies, public hearings, and judicial review of the decision.
Justification
Siting a substation is within the unreviewed discretion of a utility. No procedure exists for the siting of electric substations, even though a utility can take property for a substation site by condemnation. These substations can have significant impacts on the surrounding communities, especially in densely populated areas. Substations generate electro-magnetic fields, which are thought by some to increase the risk of certain cancers.
Electric substations should be subject to Public Service Commission review, just as power plants and transmission lines are.
Prior legislative history
S.3076 of 2013-2014 (Hoylman): Died in Energy A.5355 of 2013-2014 (Gottfried): Died in Corporations
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.