Enacts the "affordable clean energy (ACE) act"; exempts renewable energy systems from certain requirements related to energy facilities (Part A); directs the New York power authority to propose a minimum of two priority transmission projects to address the areas of highest need on the bulk transmission system (Part B); exempts payment in lieu of taxes revenue from property tax cap calculations (Part C).
This bill amends tax laws to exclude payments in lieu of property taxes from renewable energy systems (like solar, wind, and battery storage) from school district and local government tax levies. It specifically removes these energy-related payments from calculations used to determine funding levels for schools and local services. The change directly affects school districts and municipalities that rely on tax levy formulas, ensuring renewable energy projects don't reduce their available funding.
Establishes an energy project revolving loan program and energy project revolving loan fund to encourage the development of renewable energy generating projects by awarding financial assistance for certain zero-emission energy generation projects.
Includes fuel-flexible linear generators which do not utilize a fossil fuel resource in the process of generating electricity as qualifying as renewable energy systems.
Enacts the "state and local clean energy partnership", directing the public service commission to establish a standard New York state community choice aggregation program for all utility service territories.
This bill (A 7728) allows renewable energy projects (like solar or wind farms) to connect directly to utility distribution systems at the sub-transmission level, rather than only at lower voltage levels. It requires these projects to meet all existing state and federal requirements, but streamlines the interconnection process to match the standard method used for higher-voltage transmission connections. This change directly affects renewable energy developers and utilities by making it easier for certain projects to connect to the grid, potentially reducing costs and delays for qualifying distributed generation. The bill amends the energy law to override conflicting rules, effective immediately upon passage.
S 1528 establishes a tax on carbon-based fuels like coal, natural gas, and petroleum, imposed on fuel distributors and utilities based on carbon dioxide emissions. The tax starts at $35 per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent and increases by $15 annually to a maximum of $185 per ton. Revenue from the tax funds a dedicated "Carbon Dioxide Emissions Fund," with 60% returned as tax credits to low-to-moderate income residents (below 115% of area median income) and 40% allocated to clean energy transition, mass transit, and climate adaptation projects. The bill requires annual reporting by distributors and utilities and mandates public reporting on tax adjustments to address inflation and climate goals.
Directs the public service commission to evaluate hydrogen, sewage thermal energy, and nuclear small modular reactors as renewable energy sources and report the results of such evaluation to the governor and the legislature.
Directs the state energy planning board to conduct a study on time frames for replacing or upgrading battery energy storage systems at renewable energy facilities in preparation for clean energy storage and distribution across the state.
Establishes new targets for offshore wind electricity generation; includes the requirements that there is at least 15 gigawatts of offshore wind electricity generation by 2040, at least 18 gigawatts of offshore wind electricity generation by 2045 and at least 20 gigawatts of offshore wind electricity generation by 2050.
