This bill prohibits government incentives for commercial renewable energy projects like solar farms in sensitive environmental areas and on active farmland, with specific exceptions for agrivoltaic systems that combine solar power with agriculture. It removes eligibility for financial assistance, zero emission credits, and tax exemptions for such projects located in critical environmental areas, bird conservation zones, grassland bird centers, and wildlife management areas. The legislation also formally defines agrivoltaics as solar systems that simultaneously produce energy and agricultural products without displacing farming activities, while excluding certain practices like sole reliance on pollinator habitats or sheep grazing. These changes directly affect developers proposing renewable energy projects and government agencies administering agricultural and environmental programs.
This bill creates a one-time energy price refund credit for New York state taxpayers who lived in the state during 2024 and meet specific income limits. Eligible residents receive between $150 and $400 depending on their filing status and income level, with higher amounts available for married couples and lower incomes. The credit is calculated based on 2024 tax information and will be issued as a refund or tax credit for the 2026 tax year. The legislation also ensures that any portion of the credit included in federal income will not be subject to New York state or local income tax.
Enacts the citizens utility board act; establishes the citizens utility board to represent and protect the interests of the residential utility consumers of this state.
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.
Establishes the New York State grid reliability and energy affordability transition (GREAT) act; establishes the virtual power plant program to help reduce energy costs and grid reliability risks; provides incentives to participants for supporting the grid by investing in distributed energy resources and reducing net energy costs.
Designates certain employees of public utilities, municipal utilities, electric corporations, gas corporations, water corporations, steam corporations, telecommunications corporations, and cable television companies as first responders during a declared state disaster emergency.
Tags
Emergency Management
Requires at least one electric level three fast charging station available to the public for every five thousand New York state residents on a county level by December 31, 2027; provides for the siting of such charging stations; requires construction and development of such stations to comply with article 8 of the labor law including payment of the prevailing wage.
Authorizes the New York power authority to supply electric energy to low-income households receiving assistance through the New York city human resources administration and the New York state office of temporary and disability assistance, and to designate such agencies and local social services districts as billing energy service companies.
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 allows the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to enter into agreements or easements on state-owned reforestation lands to help connect renewable energy projects located outside those areas to the power grid. The legislation ensures that any such agreements will not disrupt the primary purposes of the reforestation areas, such as conservation and timber management. All agreements made under this authority must be recorded and made publicly available on the Department's official website. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.
