S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  7295--A
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              April 21, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. MAGEE, BARNWELL -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Economic Development -- recommitted to the  Committee  on
   Economic  Development  in  accordance  with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 --
   committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as  amended  and
   recommitted to said committee

 AN ACT to amend the New York state urban development corporation act, in
   relation to creating the dairy farm improved energy efficiency program
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Legislative findings.   The legislature  hereby  finds  and
 declares  that  due to their remote locations at the end of the electric
 grid infrastructure, farms are more difficult  to  service  by  electric
 utilities.    Strengthening  the  energy systems of individual farms and
 developing micro-grids in remote areas will enhance  the  overall  reli-
 ability  of  the  electric  system.   The legislature further finds that
 assisting dairy farms with high  efficiency  lighting,  high  efficiency
 pumping and cooling equipment, and other energy management systems, will
 result  in  significant  energy  savings and increased milk yields.  The
 legislature hereby declares that providing low cost tools  and  programs
 to  farmers  will  help farm operations become more efficient and reduce
 their cost of doing business.  Advancing new technologies will also help
 to accelerate the development of  the  energy  services  industry,  thus
 providing new and expanded job opportunities for New Yorkers.
   Therefore,  the legislature seeks to provide funds to encourage energy
 efficient dairy farms through grants and low interest loans for approved
 projects to stimulate the New York state dairy industry.
   § 2. Section 1 of chapter 174 of the laws of  1968,  constituting  the
 New York state urban development corporation act, is amended by adding a
 new section 16-aaa to read as follows:
   §  16-AAA.  DAIRY  FARM IMPROVED ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM.  1.  DEFI-
 NITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD07351-03-8

 A. 7295--A                          2
 
   (A) "AUTHORITY" SHALL MEAN THE NEW YORK STATE ENERGY RESEARCH DEVELOP-
 MENT AUTHORITY.
   (B)  "LOAN  FUND"  SHALL REFER TO THE DAIRY FARM IMPROVED ENERGY EFFI-
 CIENCY LOAN FUND ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
   2. (A) THE CORPORATION, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF  THE  AUTHORITY,  SHALL
 ESTABLISH  A  DAIRY FARM IMPROVED ENERGY EFFICIENCY LOAN FUND TO PROVIDE
 GRANTS AND LOW INTEREST LOANS  TO  DAIRY  FARMS  FOR  ENERGY  EFFICIENCY
 PROJECTS AND ADVANCED ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES.
   (B)  IN  ORDER  TO  BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS LOAN PROGRAM, A
 DAIRY FARM MUST HAVE AN ENERGY AUDIT PROVIDED  THROUGH  THE  AUTHORITY'S
 ENERGY AUDIT PROGRAM THAT HELPS CUSTOMERS MAKE INFORMED ELECTRICAL ENER-
 GY DECISIONS AND IMPLEMENT ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGIES.
   3. (A) THE CORPORATION SHALL, WITHIN AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS, PROVIDE
 FINANCIAL,  TECHNICAL OR OTHER ASSISTANCE FROM THE LOAN FUND TO ELIGIBLE
 DAIRY FARMS.
   (B) THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE GRANTS AND  LOW  INTEREST
 LOANS  FROM  THE LOAN FUND FOR ELIGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS TO DAIRY FARMS.  TO
 BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH GRANTS AND LOANS, A DAIRY FARM  SHALL  IDENTIFY  AN
 ELIGIBLE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AND PROVIDE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION.
   (C)  GRANTS  OR  LOANS  PROVIDED  BY  THE CORPORATION MAY BE UP TO ONE
 HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
   4. ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS ELIGIBLE FOR GRANTS OR LOW  INTEREST
 LOANS THROUGH THE LOAN FUND SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (A)  PRE-QUALIFIED MEASURES THAT ARE PROVEN COST EFFECTIVE INVESTMENTS
 WHICH REDUCE ENERGY USE;
   (B) CUSTOM MEASURES THAT PAY  FOR  THEMSELVES  IN  TEN  YEARS  THROUGH
 REDUCED ENERGY USE;
   (C)  PROCESS IMPROVEMENT MEASURES THAT REDUCE MANUFACTURING ENERGY USE
 ON A COST-PER-UNIT BASIS; AND
   (D) RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES THAT USE THE SUN, WIND, ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
 OF ANIMAL WASTES OR OTHER APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGIES TO GENERATE  HEAT  OR
 POWER.
   5.  APPLICATIONS  FOR  ASSISTANCE  PURSUANT  TO  THIS SECTION SHALL BE
 REVIEWED AND EVALUATED  BY  THE  CORPORATION  IN  COOPERATION  WITH  THE
 AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND CRITERIA SET FORTH IN
 THE RULES AND REGULATIONS PROMULGATED BY THE CORPORATION.
   6.  THE  CORPORATION  AND THE AUTHORITY SHALL SUBMIT AN ANNUAL WRITTEN
 REPORT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE
 SENATE IDENTIFYING THE NUMBER OF DAIRY FARMS ASSISTED THROUGH  THE  LOAN
 FUND  PROGRAM, AND THE TYPES OF IMPROVEMENTS IMPLEMENTED AND ENERGY COST
 SAVINGS AND ANY OTHER BENEFITS REALIZED BY THE DAIRY FARMS  ASSISTED  BY
 THIS PROGRAM.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.