What's happening
This bill creates a community wind energy pilot program in New York, allowing consumers to subscribe and receive dividends from state-owned wind energy installations.
Why it matters
Direct consumer investment in state-owned wind energy. By allowing individuals to pay a one-time fee and receive quarterly dividends based on the energy generated, the bill creates a new way for everyday New Yorkers to financially participate in—and benefit from—renewable energy projects.
State retention of ownership and renewable energy credits. The state maintains ownership of the wind installations and any related renewable energy credits, ensuring public control over the assets and potential long-term revenue streams, rather than privatizing them.
Equitable and capped participation. Subscription prices are capped at $500, and the commission sets limits on the number of subscriptions at each level; this is designed to prevent monopolization by large investors and keep the program accessible to a broad range of consumers.
Reinvestment for expansion. A small percentage (1%) of subscriber payments is reserved for repaying initial capital costs and, after those are covered, for funding additional wind installations—potentially creating a self-sustaining cycle of renewable energy growth within the state.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Start Community Wind Program
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
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2122
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 22, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SANDERS -- 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 the community wind energy pilot program
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. Community wind energy pilot program. 1. The commission shall establish a New York state pilot program promoting the use of community wind energy.
2. The commission shall oversee the implementation of the pilot program and shall issue an order of the commission authorizing the construction of a wind energy system installation.
3. The commission shall invite consumers to participate in the program as subscribers, provided that:
(a) the commission shall set a subscription schedule, including the price per watt to subscribe and the percentage of the total installation each subscription level shall represent;
(b) subscribers shall make a one time payment to the commission and, in return, subscribers shall be paid a quarterly dividend for the energy generated by the watts covered by their subscription level;
(c) a consumer shall be paid on a quarterly basis based on the consumer's subscription level;
(d) the commission shall set a maximum number of subscriptions at each level; and
(e) the minimum price per subscription shall not exceed five hundred dollars.
4. All energy generated by the wind energy system installation shall be sold back to an investor-owned utility.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07153-01-9
S. 2122 2
5. One percent of all payments due to subscribers shall be held by the commission to pay for the capital investment into the original wind energy system installation. After the original installation has been paid in full, the one percent held by the commission shall be used to fund new wind energy system installations in the same manner.
6. The state shall retain ownership of the wind energy system installation and of any renewable energy credits generated by the installation.
7. Subscribers shall be paid for energy generated at the retail rate and not at the avoided-cost rate.
8. The maximum size of the installation shall be two thousand kilowatts.
9. Subscriptions may not be resold to any entity other than the state.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 the community wind energy pilot program
Purpose
The bill shall establish a New York state pilot program promoting the use of community wind energy. The commission shall oversee the implemen- tation of the pilot program and shall issue an order of the commission authorizing the construction of a wind energy system installation. The commission shall invite consumers to participate in the program as subscribers
Summary of provisions
Establishes a community wind energy pilot program
Existing law
None
Justification
The commission shall set a subscription schedule, including the price per watt to subscribe and the percentage of the total installation each subscription level shall represent. Subscribers shall make a onetime payment to the commission and, in return, subscribers shall be paid a quarterly dividend for the energy generated by the watts covered by their subscription level
Legislative history
02/17/15 Referred to Energy and Telecommunications 01/06/16 Referred to Energy and Telecommunications
Fiscal implications
None
Local fiscal implications
None
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.