Allows surplus or uncommitted funds in the New York state climate investment account to be returned to ratepayers; establishes a one-year utility bill tax and surcharge holiday and a two-year green energy tax holiday; relates to audits of utility corporations; authorizes the public service commission to reconsider rate increases; grants customers the right to decline smart meters and prohibits such customers from being penalized or charged exercising such right; directs the public service commission to conduct a study analyzing the economic impact of the use of smart meters; relates to costs and expenses of the department of public service and the public service commission; directs the public service commission to develop a formula to determine the average cost to comply with the provisions set forth in article seventy-five of the environmental conservation law; provides for a ratepayer protection tax credit; repeals certain provisions of law relating to the assessment of costs and expenses of the department of public service and the public service commission.
Authorizes certain municipalities to participate in a community-wide energy aggregation program where they can request bids, select an energy service provider, install energy efficiency measures and develop local renewable energy facilities to provide electric and/or gas supply services, including gas efficiency and renewable heating technologies to participating customers.
Allows surplus or uncommitted funds in the New York state climate investment account to be returned to ratepayers; establishes a one-year utility bill tax and surcharge holiday and a two-year green energy tax holiday; relates to audits of utility corporations; authorizes the public service commission to reconsider rate increases; grants customers the right to decline smart meters and prohibits such customers from being penalized or charged exercising such right; directs the public service commission to conduct a study analyzing the economic impact of the use of smart meters; relates to costs and expenses of the department of public service and the public service commission; directs the public service commission to develop a formula to determine the average cost to comply with the provisions set forth in article seventy-five of the environmental conservation law; provides for a ratepayer protection tax credit; repeals certain provisions of law relating to the assessment of costs and expenses of the department of public service and the public service commission.
This bill creates a new program in New York that requires electricity providers to purchase and retire tradeable geothermal renewable energy credits to support the adoption of geothermal heating and cooling systems. The legislation establishes a geothermal portfolio standard that will gradually increase the percentage of credits providers must acquire, starting at 0.1% in 2027 and reaching 2% by 2032, with a potential increase to 3% after a review. These credits are issued for eligible geothermal installations placed in service after January 1, 2026, and providers who fail to meet the requirement must pay an alternative compliance fee that decreases over time. The bill also creates a dedicated geothermal fund to receive these compliance payments, which will be used for geothermal deployment, workforce training, and low- and moderate-income installations.
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.
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.
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.
Requires the office of renewable energy siting and electric transmission to promptly publish applications for permits to site a major renewable energy facility or to site a major electric transmission facility.
This bill (A 10075) prohibits state incentives - including financial assistance, tax exemptions, and zero-emission credits - for commercial renewable energy projects (like large solar farms) in specific sensitive environmental areas. It directly affects developers and farmers seeking state support for such projects on land within agricultural districts, critical environmental areas, grassland bird conservation centers, bird conservation areas, or wildlife management zones. Exceptions apply only to agrivoltaic systems (combining crops and solar) or renewable energy systems designed primarily for on-farm electricity use. The law amends multiple state laws to block these incentives while allowing limited on-farm renewable energy development.
