Senate Bill S3845

                                BILL NUMBER:S3845

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to require the public service commission to
develop recommendations regarding the establishment of microgrids

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF THE BILL:

Relates to a study of and recommendations for the possible
establishment of microgrids to help protect vital public health and
safety operations and infrastructure in the event of major disruption
to the power grid.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Requires the Public Service Commission (PSC), in
consultation with the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency
Services to develop recommendations regarding the establishment of
microgrids in the State of New York and defines the term microgrids.

Section 2: The PSC is required to submit a final report of
recommendations to the Governor, the Temporary President of the Senate
and the Speaker of the Assembly within one year of the effective date
of this act.

Section 3: This act shall take effect immediately.

              

JUSTIFICATION:

Super Storm Sandy is inflicted about $62 billion in damage and other
losses in New York and New Jersey and Connecticut. Hospitals, schools,
police stations, and critical infrastructure lost their supply of
electricity. Hospitals, nursing homes and facilities housing the
disabled were left without power, simultaneously creating
life-threatening conditions chronically ill and infirmed patients.
The latter group had to be rescued from storm battered and flooded
facilities by the National Guard.

While loss of life at these facilities was avoided during this storm,
future natural disasters could be more threatening and devastating.
New scientific estimates and flooding projections tell us that more
areas in New York State are now considered flood plains. In addition,
had Super Storm Sandy been a category 3 or higher storm, over 85% of
New York City would have flooded.

Had New York State constructed microgrids to protect hospitals, first
responder headquarters such as police and fire stations, emergency
shelters, schools, water filtration plants, sewage treatment plants
and other infrastructure, the extent of the damage caused by Super
Storm Sandy would have been tremendously mitigated.

Microgrids are a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy
resources within clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a
single controllable entity with respect to the grid (and can) connect
and disconnect from the grid to enable it to operate in both
grid-connected or island-mode.


The extent of severe damage caused by recent storms demonstrates the
tremendous benefits of having microgrids in place to protect critical
public health and safety infrastructure.

It is very clear that microgrids are needed in order to fully protect
the expensive and extensive public safety and health infrastructure
New York has in developed. In addition, microgrid technology can serve
to save lives by not only protecting the communication systems of
first responders but also by protecting the electrical needs of
hospitals and nursing homes where patients are connected to
life-saving electrical equipment.

This legislation requires a study of the positive impact of rolling
out microgrid technology and requires recommendations on how to fund
the construction of such a system. The need for such information is
needed in order for New York to consider all the variables in
emergency preparedness and planning. Additionally, with New York State
in the process of receiving billions of dollars in federal disaster
assistance, this is an opportune time to examine how the construction
of microgrids will benefit all communities in New York State.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT:

None. This legislation will actually help prevent possible billions in
damage to state and municipal government operated public safety
facilities and infrastructure if microgrids technology is implemented
as part of emergency planning in New York State.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately