What's happening
The bill updates criteria for approving electric transmission lines to require conformity with the latest state energy plan and environmental impact consideration.
Why it matters
Aligns transmission line approvals with New York’s current energy strategy. , ensuring new projects support up-to-date policy goals such as renewable integration or emission reductions, rather than outdated planning frameworks.
Requires environmental impact consideration related to electricity generation. , meaning regulators must now explicitly weigh whether new transmission lines could increase pollution or degrade environmental quality, including from out-of-state power sources.
Could affect the pace and type of infrastructure development. , possibly making it more challenging for projects that don’t fit the latest state energy objectives or that risk negative environmental consequences, thus prioritizing sustainability and state planning coherence.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Update Transmission Line Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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.
Update Power Line Approval
In Assembly Committee · Energy · Sponsor Kevin Cahill
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2292
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 12, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to approval of electric transmission line facilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (e) of subdivision 1 of section 126 of the public service law, as amended by chapter 521 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
(e) in the case of an electric transmission line, (1) what part, if any, of the line shall be located underground; (2) that such facility conforms to [a long-range plan for expansion of the electric power grid of the electric systems serving this state and interconnected utility systems, which will serve the interests of electric system economy and reliability] the most recent state energy plan as established pursuant to article six of the energy law, with consideration of whether the approval of such facility would cause adverse impacts on the state's environmental quality due to an increase in in-state or out-of-state electric generation;
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01495-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to approval of electric transmission line facilities
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to require the Public Service Commission (PSC), to consult the most recent State Energy Plan (SEP) before issuing a certificate of environmental compatibility and public need ("certificate") for an electric transmission line.
Summary of provisions
This bill amends paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section 126 of the public service law.
Justification
This bill requires that in an Article VII proceeding on an electric transmission line, the PSC must determine whether or not the proposed facility, if built, would correspond with the most recent energy plan, while considering the prospect of additional environmental impacts that may be caused by increased electrical generation as a result of such facility was improved. The legislation is intended to prevent the approval of projects which may directly result in increased electrical generation produced from dirty sources, including coal that would impact the state's environment.
In September 2010, the PSC granted a certificate for the construction of the Hudson Transmission Project. The eight-mile underground transmission cable is intended to connect the New York Power Authority's (NYPA) governmental customers to the PJM Interconnection, the 13-state wholesale electrical market that serves, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and the District of Columbia. The PSC approved the certificate despite testimony from various participants who argued that the facility was unnecessary due to existing electrical capacity in the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) wholesale electrical market. Additionally, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) testified that HTP would result in additional coal-fired in PJM. Nearly half of PJM is produced in from coal fire generator, many of which are located in Pennsylvania, a state upwind of New York. The DEC testified that only 13 percent of NYISO power was generated from coal.
The 2009 State Energy Plan included energy and transportation strategies that would reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, including the need to increase the amount energy produced by cleaner burning and renewable resources. The PSC's decision regarding HTP appears to be contradict policies enumerated in the Energy Plan.
Legislative history
2015-16: S.2378A/A.1573A - Amended and Recommitted to Energy and Telecommunications 2013-14: S.699/A.1244 - Held in Energy and Telecommunications 2011-12: S.5626/A.7399 - Passed the Assembly - Held in Energy and Telecommunications
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
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.