What's happening
This bill creates a grant and low-interest loan program for dairy farms to improve energy efficiency and support advanced energy technologies.
Why it matters
Rural energy resilience. By targeting dairy farms, especially those at the end of the electric grid, the bill aims to strengthen rural energy systems and encourage the development of micro-grids, potentially making rural communities less vulnerable to power disruptions.
Lower costs and increased productivity. The focus on supporting high-efficiency equipment and energy management systems could help dairy farms reduce their operating expenses, increase milk yields, and become more competitive in a challenging agricultural economy.
Stimulus for green technology and jobs. By promoting advanced energy technologies—including renewable sources like solar, wind, and anaerobic digestion—the bill could help accelerate the adoption of clean energy in agriculture, supporting growth in the state's energy services industry and creating new job opportunities.
Accountability and transparency. The requirement for annual reporting to legislative leaders on program participation, improvements made, and resulting cost savings ensures oversight and provides data to inform future policy decisions regarding farm energy efficiency programs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Help Dairy Farms Save Energy
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Print number 7295a
- Amend and recommit to economic development
- Referred to economic development
- Referred to economic development
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.
Aid Dairy Farms Save Energy
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Patty Ritchie
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7295--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 21, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. MAGEE, BARNWELL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Economic Development -- recommitted to the Committee on Economic Development in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the New York state urban development corporation act, in relation to creating the dairy farm improved energy efficiency program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds and declares that due to their remote locations at the end of the electric grid infrastructure, farms are more difficult to service by electric utilities. Strengthening the energy systems of individual farms and developing micro-grids in remote areas will enhance the overall reliability of the electric system. The legislature further finds that assisting dairy farms with high efficiency lighting, high efficiency pumping and cooling equipment, and other energy management systems, will result in significant energy savings and increased milk yields. The legislature hereby declares that providing low cost tools and programs to farmers will help farm operations become more efficient and reduce their cost of doing business. Advancing new technologies will also help to accelerate the development of the energy services industry, thus providing new and expanded job opportunities for New Yorkers.
Therefore, the legislature seeks to provide funds to encourage energy efficient dairy farms through grants and low interest loans for approved projects to stimulate the New York state dairy industry.
§ 2. Section 1 of chapter 174 of the laws of 1968, constituting the New York state urban development corporation act, is amended by adding a new section 16-aaa to read as follows:
§ 16-aaa. Dairy farm improved energy efficiency program. 1. Definitions. For the purpose of this section:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07351-03-8
A. 7295--A 2
(a) "Authority" shall mean the New York state energy research development authority.
(b) "Loan fund" shall refer to the dairy farm improved energy efficiency loan fund established pursuant to this section.
2. (a) The corporation, with the assistance of the authority, shall establish a dairy farm improved energy efficiency loan fund to provide grants and low interest loans to dairy farms for energy efficiency projects and advanced energy technologies.
(b) In order to be eligible to participate in this loan program, a dairy farm must have an energy audit provided through the authority's energy audit program that helps customers make informed electrical energy decisions and implement energy efficiency strategies.
3. (a) The corporation shall, within available appropriations, provide financial, technical or other assistance from the loan fund to eligible dairy farms.
(b) The corporation is authorized to provide grants and low interest loans from the loan fund for eligible improvements to dairy farms. To be eligible for such grants and loans, a dairy farm shall identify an eligible improvement project and provide necessary documentation.
(c) Grants or loans provided by the corporation may be up to one hundred thousand dollars.
4. Energy efficiency improvements eligible for grants or low interest loans through the loan fund shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) Pre-qualified measures that are proven cost effective investments which reduce energy use;
(b) Custom measures that pay for themselves in ten years through reduced energy use;
(c) Process improvement measures that reduce manufacturing energy use on a cost-per-unit basis; and
(d) Renewable technologies that use the sun, wind, anaerobic digestion of animal wastes or other appropriate technologies to generate heat or power.
5. Applications for assistance pursuant to this section shall be reviewed and evaluated by the corporation in cooperation with the authority pursuant to eligibility requirements and criteria set forth in the rules and regulations promulgated by the corporation.
6. The corporation and the authority shall submit an annual written report to the speaker of the assembly and the temporary president of the senate identifying the number of dairy farms assisted through the loan fund program, and the types of improvements implemented and energy cost savings and any other benefits realized by the dairy farms assisted by this program.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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