What's happening
This bill requires NYCHA properties to install geothermal or air source heat pumps and LED lighting, funded by a revolving loan and a possible energy bill surcharge.
Why it matters
Mandates a complete shift away from fossil fuel-based heating and hot water in NYCHA units. , meaning residents would rely entirely on electric systems (geothermal or air source heat pumps), which could impact utility reliability, maintenance needs, and long-term energy costs.
Establishes a substantial, dedicated funding mechanism. (revolving loan account) for these energy efficiency retrofits, drawing from multiple sources including state appropriations, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and clean energy funds—potentially accelerating NYCHA’s ability to modernize infrastructure.
Allows for a new energy bill surcharge (up to 2%). specifically to finance these upgrades or repay loans, which could directly affect tenants’ or the authority’s utility costs, but also ensures a continuous funding stream for future improvements.
Aims for broad, systemic upgrades to lighting efficiency by requiring full transition to LEDs. , potentially lowering long-term building energy use and costs, improving lighting quality, and contributing to New York’s climate and emissions goals.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Upgrade NYCHA Heating and Cooling
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8201
IN SENATE
April 15, 2020
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development
AN ACT to amend the public housing law, the public authorities law and the energy law, in relation to providing for the heating and cooling of properties including dwelling units owned by the New York city housing authority through the installation of geothermal or air source heat pumps
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "NYCHA HVAC repair act".
§ 2. The public housing law is amended by adding a new section 402-f to read as follows:
§ 402-f. NYCHA HVAC repair. 1. The New York city housing authority is authorized and directed to permit the New York state energy research and development authority to retrofit New York city housing authority residential properties for the installation of geothermal or air source heat pumps in dwelling units owned or operated by the New York city housing authority, completely replacing all oil or natural gas fired heating, hot water and other combustion units.
2. The New York city housing authority is authorized and directed to permit the New York state energy research and development authority to replace all compact fluorescent, fluorescent, incandescent, or arc vapor lamps in properties owned or operated by the New York city housing authority with light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs if lighting has not already been replaced, with the goal of replacing all lighting in New York city housing authority properties with high efficiency bulbs.
§ 3. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 1879-a to read as follows:
§ 1879-a. Revolving loan for NYCHA HVAC repair. 1. The authority is hereby authorized and directed to establish a revolving loan account in order to retrofit New York city housing authority residential properties for the installation of geothermal or air source heat pumps in dwelling
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16149-01-0
S. 8201 2
units owned or operated by NYCHA pursuant to subdivision one of section four hundred two-f of the public housing law. Such loan shall be funded from moneys made available pursuant to appropriations by the authority, funds of the regional greenhouse gas initiative (RGGI), and other funds available to the authority including but not limited to the clean energy fund.
2. The authority is authorized and directed to replace all compact fluorescent, fluorescent, incandescent, or arc vapor lamps in properties owned or operated by the New York city housing authority with light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs pursuant to subdivision two of section four hundred two-f of the public housing law.
§ 4. Section 6-104 of the energy law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
6. The state energy plan shall include provisions for allowing a surcharge of up to two percent on energy bills, for the New York city housing authority to provide funds or repay loans to the New York state energy research and development authority for the repair of all New York city housing authority heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems with geothermal heating and cooling, and replacement of New York city housing authority lighting with light-emitting diode bulbs, as described in section four hundred two-f of the public housing law and section eighteen hundred seventy-nine-a of the public authorities law.
§ 5. 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 housing law, the public authorities law and the energy law, in relation to providing for the heating and cooling of properties including dwelling units owned by the New York city housing authority through the installation of geothermal or air source heat pumps
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this bill is to develop a source of funding for providing sustainable and energy efficient systems for the heating and cooling of units owned by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 titles the bill the "NYS Net Neutrality Protection Act".
Section 2 amends the public housing law adding a new section 402-f.
Section 3 amends the energy law by adding a new section 1879-a.
Section 4 amends Section 6-104 of the energy by adding a new subdivision 6.
Section 5 sets for the effective date.
Justification
The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) has had severe issues in providing reliable heating and cooling for many units that it owns. With freezing cold winters and dangerously hot summers in New York, many NYCHA residents must deal with brutal temperature-related conditions within their units. This legislation takes action to limit NYCHA resi- dents from having to face heat or cold-related emergencies, by having the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) provide a revolving loan fund for installation of efficient and sustain- able heating and cooling systems known as geothermal heat pumps.
Prior legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.