What's happening
This bill creates a state-run community solar pilot program, allowing consumers to invest and receive dividends from shared solar installations.
Why it matters
Allows individuals to directly invest in clean energy. By permitting consumers to subscribe and receive dividends based on solar energy production, the program gives everyday New Yorkers a stake in the state’s renewable energy transition, not just utilities or corporations.
Caps individual financial risk and broadens participation. With a maximum subscription price of $500 and limits on the number of subscriptions per level, the program aims to make community solar accessible to a wider range of income levels, rather than only large investors.
Uses a reinvestment model to expand solar. A portion of the returns (1%) is held back to repay the original installation cost and then used to fund future solar projects, creating a self-sustaining system that could grow the number of installations over time.
Ensures state oversight and public benefit. By keeping ownership of the installations and renewable energy credits with the state, and selling power at the retail (not avoided-cost) rate, the bill maximizes public benefit and helps ensure that the program supports the state’s clean energy and climate goals.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Start Community Solar Program
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
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.
Establishes a community solar pilot program
In Assembly Committee · Energy · Sponsor Dan Quart
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
436
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sens. HOYLMAN, ADDABBO, 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 solar 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 solar pilot program. 1. The commission shall establish a New York state pilot program promoting the use of community solar 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 solar 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.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01319-01-9
S. 436 2
4. All energy generated by the solar installation shall be sold back to an investor-owned utility.
5. One percent of all payments due to subscribers shall be held by the commission to pay for the capital investment into the original solar installation. After the original installation has been paid in full, the one percent held by the commission shall be used to fund new solar installations in the same manner.
6. The state shall retain ownership of the solar 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 solar pilot program
Purpose
Establishes a community solar pilot program
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the public service law by adding a new section 66-o, which details the Community Solar pilot program.
Section 2 sets an immediate effective date.
Justification
Many New Yorkers would like to move to solar energy, but are unable to because they live in an apartment or other situation that is unsuitable for a solar installation. A community solar pilot project will allow those New Yorkers to invest in off-site solar energy, offsetting their energy consumption and creating an ongoing funding stream for new installations.
Electricity generated by solar power systems is clean, renewable, and reliable. These systems reduce the amount of greenhouse gases and help to save money on electricity and natural gas bills. Solar power systems can also provide communities with fixed energy costs along with reduced pressure on the electrical grid while providing additional electricity when they generate more than is used during the day.
Legislative history
S.0093 of 2017-2018 (Hoylman): Died in Energy A.4155 of 2017-2018 (Quart): Died in Energy S.337 of 2015-2016 (Hoylman): Died in Energy & Telecommunications A.4739 of 2015-2016 (Quart): Died in Energy S.7444 of 2014 (Gipson): Died in Energy & Telecommunications A.8307 of 2013-2014 (Quart): Died in Energy
Fiscal implications
Minimal
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.