Relates to providing a tax credit for densified biomass fuel expenditures; defines "qualified densified biomass fuel expenditures" and "densified biomass fuel".
Requires the use of biodiesel and renewable diesel in state diesel operated vehicles; defines biodiesel as renewable, biodegradable, mono alkyl ester combustible liquid fuel derived from agricultural plant oils, animal fats or waste oils and greases.
Establishes an exemption from taxation for energy-related public utility real property related to attaining state climate goals; provides that such exemption shall remain in effect until it is retired or removed from service.
This bill creates a pilot program to help school districts transition to electric school buses by funding essential charging infrastructure. It allocates $20 million from the state general fund and $20 million from New York's clean energy fund (NYSERDA) to provide competitive annual grants for two school districts per economic development region. Grants cover planning and building clean energy micro-grids, including engineering and land use studies, to support reliable charging systems. The program will run from April 2026 through April 2031, with rules to be established by June 2026.
Exempts payments in lieu of taxes received or receivable with regards to renewable energy projects from local governments' tax cap calculations; defines term.
Provides small businesses with grants of up to $100,000 to commercialize energy and environmental technology innovations and ideas in-state to stimulate economic development.
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Small Business
Enacts the accelerate solar for affordable power (ASAP) act to set a new target for distributed solar energy capacity and direct the public service commission to advance reforms to the utility interconnection process to ensure timely and cost-effective integration of new distributed energy resources.
S 8512 (the "Solar UP Now NY Act") defines "portable solar generation devices" as moveable photovoltaic systems under 1,200 watts that connect via standard outlets to offset household electricity use. It exempts these devices from utility interconnection rules and net metering requirements, meaning customers don’t need utility approval, pay fees for grid feedback, or install extra equipment. The bill directly affects residential and small commercial users who want to use simple portable solar units without regulatory hurdles. Utilities cannot be held liable for damage from these devices, and the law takes effect immediately.
Provides that in the siting of new electric transmission facilities, including high-voltage transmission lines, the following corridors shall be utilized in the following order of priority in accordance with feasibility of economic and engineering considerations, reliability of the electric system and the protection of the environment: existing utility corridors; highway (interstate, freeway and state trunk) and railroad corridors; recreational trails, to the extent that the facilities may be constructed below ground and that the facilities do not significantly impact environmentally sensitive areas; and new corridors; provides that the commissioner of transportation shall engage in coordination activities with a utility or transmission line developer to review requested highway corridors for possible permitted locations of transmission lines.
S 4408 allows New York's state environmental department to create leases or easements for renewable energy projects (like solar and wind farms) on state-owned lands designated for reforestation. These agreements must not interfere with the reforestation purposes of the land, as defined by New York's constitution. The bill requires all such agreements to be publicly recorded and posted online. It directly affects the state department, renewable energy developers, and the management of reforestation areas.
