What's happening
This bill creates a program to encourage renewable energy development on brownfields, dormant power sites, and utility-owned properties in New York.
Why it matters
Transforms underused or contaminated land. by focusing on brownfields, dormant power sites, and utility/developer-owned properties, the bill helps repurpose areas that would otherwise sit idle or pose environmental risks, turning them into productive assets for clean energy.
Supports union labor standards. developers and utilities must have a labor peace agreement with bona fide unions as a condition for participating, potentially leading to better labor protections, more stable employment, and local job creation in the renewable energy sector.
Integrates renewables into the grid. the bill requires that infrastructure for new renewable projects be owned and operated in a way that ties directly into existing electric distribution systems, which could make clean energy adoption smoother and more reliable for ratepayers.
Mandates transparency and oversight. utilities and developers must submit detailed cost, benefit, and risk analyses (including customer rate impacts) to the Public Service Commission, aiming to ensure that projects are economically justified and that ratepayers are protected.
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Who cares
Combination gas and electric utilities and private developers
The bill would create a program for them to own and operate solar, wind, energy storage and hydroelectric projects on qualifying sites, subject to Public Service Commission approval.
Public Service Commission
The commission would establish and oversee the program, review proposals and issue rules, with funding and resource input from Empire State Development and NYSERDA.
Labor unions representing or seeking to represent utility employees
Participation would require a labor peace agreement with a qualifying union as an ongoing condition of authorization.
Utility customers
Project proposals would have to examine costs, benefits and risks, including implications for customer rates.
Headline styles
Turn Brownfields Into Solar Farms
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
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.
Turn Old Sites Into Renewables
In Senate Committee · Energy And Telecommunications · Sponsor Kevin S. Parker
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7376
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 29, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. CUSICK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to renewable energy projects on brownfield sites, dormant electric generating sites and utility owned property
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 66-p to read as follows:
§ 66-p. New York state renewable reclamation projects program. 1. As used in this section, a "renewable reclamation project" shall mean solar electric generating equipment, wind electric generating equipment, electric energy storage equipment and hydroelectric generating equipment which a combination gas and electric corporation or private developer is authorized to own and operate on:
(a) a brownfield site as defined in subdivision two of section 27-1405 of the environmental conservation law, not excluding a site subject to an enforcement order as provided for in paragraph (c) of subdivision two of section 27-1405 of the environmental conservation law; or
(b) a dormant electric generating site as determined by the commission; or
(c) real property owned by a private developer or real property owned by a combination gas and electric corporation.
2. The commission, with input from the empire state development corporation and the New York state energy research and development authority regarding funding and other available resources, shall establish the New York state renewable reclamation projects program to stimulate the development of renewable energy on the types of sites designated in subdivision one of this section subject to private or combination gas and electric corporation ownership and operation.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10847-01-9
A. 7376 2
3. The commission shall oversee and approve the implementation of the renewable reclamation projects program by combination gas and electric corporations or private developers. Such program shall include the following elements:
(a) (i) Combination gas and electric corporations or private developers shall own or lease a brownfield site or a dormant electric generating site; or
(ii) Private developers or combination gas and electric corporations shall own real property and any such property shall be strategically located to allow for a more optimized, secure and flexible renewable electric power system.
(b) The combination gas and electric corporation or private developer shall own the infrastructure required to effectively integrate the electricity produced into the electric system. Such infrastructure shall be interconnected and operated in parallel with the combination gas and electric corporation's distribution facilities.
(c) The combination gas and electric corporation shall issue a request for proposal for the construction of the renewables.
4. A combination gas and electric corporation or a private developer shall provide the commission with the following:
(a) An examination of the costs, benefits and risks of any proposal submitted by a combination gas and electric corporation or private developer including the rate implications to customers.
(b) A demonstration that the corporation has entered into a labor peace agreement with a bona fide labor organization of jurisdiction that is actively engaged in representing or attempting to represent the combination gas and electric corporation's employees. The labor peace agreement shall be an ongoing material condition of authorization to participate in the New York state renewable reclamation projects program.
5. The combination gas and electric corporation may, with the approval of the commission, participate in funding opportunities provided by the New York state energy research and development authority. A private developer may participate in any funding opportunities provided by any state or federal program including but not limited to public benefit corporations.
6. The commission shall issue such orders, rules and regulations as may be necessary and appropriate for the interpretation, implementation or administration of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.