S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5145--A
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 14, 2011
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Introduced by M. of A. GABRYSZAK, REILLY, CROUCH, GUNTHER, JAFFEE --
Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CAHILL, CLARK, COOK, GLICK, GOTTFRIED,
KATZ, MAGEE, McENENY, MILLMAN, PEOPLES-STOKES, SAYWARD -- 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 to farmers
will help them 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.
S 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-v to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08594-03-2
A. 5145--A 2
S 16-V. DAIRY FARM IMPROVED ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM. 1. DEFI-
NITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION:
(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.
S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.