What's happening
This bill creates a program to encourage renewable energy projects on brownfields, dormant power sites, and utility-owned properties in New York.
Why it matters
Unlocks underused land for clean energy. By focusing on brownfields and dormant power sites, the bill promotes renewable energy development without using farmland or green space, turning previously contaminated or idle properties into productive assets.
Requires careful oversight and public benefit analysis. The Public Service Commission must review cost, benefits, risks, and ratepayer impacts for each project, aiming to balance clean energy expansion with consumer protection and transparency.
Mandates labor standards for project approval. Projects can only proceed if developers reach and maintain a labor peace agreement with bona fide labor organizations, ensuring stable labor relations and potentially higher-quality jobs.
Expands funding opportunities for developers. Both utilities and private developers can access state and federal funding streams, potentially accelerating renewable energy investment and innovation on otherwise challenging sites.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Turn Old Sites Into Renewables
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.909
- 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.
Turn Brownfields Into Solar Farms
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Michael Cusick
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6112
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 16, 2019
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 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
S. 6112 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to renewable energy projects on brownfield sites, dormant electric generat- ing sites and utility owned property
Purpose or general idea of bill
The bill would establish the New York State renewable reclamation projects program to encourage the reclamation of dormant electric gener- ating sites, certain brownfield sites, and other eligible properties and transform them into viable renewable electric generation and/or electric energy storage facilities.
Summary of provisions
This bill would add a new section 66-p to the public service law (PSL) to direct the Public Service Commission, with input from the Empire State Development Corporation and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority regarding funding and other available sources, to establish the New York State Renewable Reclamation Projects Program. Such program would encourage reclamation of dormant electric generating sites, certain brownfield sites and other eligible properties, by private entities or energy corporation's, and stimulate the development of these sites into viable renewable electric generation and/or electric energy storage facilities with minimal impact to the New York State energy markets. The reclaimed sites would generate electricity from either wind, solar, hydroelectric and/or storage sources and would have to be strategically located to allow for a more optimized, secure and flexible renewable electric power system.
The bill would be effective immediately.
Justification
The primary objective of this legislation establishing the NYS Renewable Reclamation Project's Program is to advance the development of renewable energy and energy storage resources on existing environmentally compro- mised property constituting brownfield and deteriorating fossil-fuel- fired thermal electric generation sites without negatively impacting the energy generation markets. These reclaimed sites will serve as develop- ment models for the effective re-use of such sites for renewable and other advanced energy technology deployment that will assist New York State in meeting its 50% by 2030 and 80% by 2050 climate goals.
Benefits of this Program include optimization of clean energy develop- ment, combat climate change, preservation of natural resources and utilization of existing infrastructure ("smart growth") present on the site and surrounding area. These reclamation projects aim to drive inno- vative, scalable and replicable solutions for the benefit of energy customers and local communities. In addition, local communities will realize new jobs, tax revenues and joint public/private partnerships to create a stronger economic foundation for the future.
The bill also protects ratepayers by requiring an examination of the costs, benefits and risks of any proposal submitted by an electric corporation or private developer including the rate implications to customers. Finally, the bill protects labor interests because it requires that a participating energy corporation demonstrate that the corporation has entered into a labor peace agreement with a bona fide labor organization of jurisdiction that is actively engaged in repres- enting or attempting to represent the corporation's employees.
Prior legislative history
2018:
A11282 - referred to corporations, authorities and commissions.
S9036 - referred to rules.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.