S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3613
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
February 13, 2015
___________
Introduced by Sen. GRIFFO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommuni-
cations
AN ACT to amend the energy law, in relation to energy technologies
eligible for net metering
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 9-102 of the energy law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 5 to read as follows:
5. "POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT" MEANS AN AGREEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH
THE INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF AN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY
ELIGIBLE FOR NET ENERGY METERING PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-SIX-J OR
SIXTY-SIX-L OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW, WHERE A THIRD PARTY OWNER (NON-A-
GENCY OR NON-MUNICIPAL OWNER) GENERATES ELECTRICITY FROM SUCH ENERGY
TECHNOLOGY (WHETHER OR NOT SUCH ENERGY TECHNOLOGY IS LOCATED AT THE
POINT OF CONSUMPTION) AND SELLS THE RESULTING ELECTRICITY TO AN AGENCY
OR MUNICIPALITY FOR A PRICE, VOLUME AND DURATION AS SET FORTH IN THE
AGREEMENT.
S 2. The energy law is amended by adding a new section 9-104 to read
as follows:
S 9-104. POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS. 1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER
PROVISION OF LAW OR JUDICIAL DECISION (INCLUDING ANY THAT RESTRICT THE
AUTHORITY OF A GOVERNING BODY OF AN AGENCY OR MUNICIPALITY TO BIND
SUBSEQUENT GOVERNING BODIES OF SUCH AGENCY OR MUNICIPALITY), ANY AGENCY,
MUNICIPALITY, OR PUBLIC AUTHORITY, IN ADDITION TO EXISTING POWERS, IS
AUTHORIZED TO ENTER INTO POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS OF UP TO THIRTY-FIVE
YEARS DURATION, PROVIDED THAT THE DURATION OF ANY SUCH CONTRACT SHALL
NOT EXCEED THE REASONABLY EXPECTED USEFUL LIFE OF THE ENERGY FACILITIES
OR EQUIPMENT SUBJECT TO SUCH AGREEMENT.
2. POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO INCLUDE THE
CLAUSE SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION 9-103 OF THIS ARTICLE.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00536-01-5
S. 3613 2
3. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW OR JUDICIAL DECISION
(INCLUDING ANY THAT RESTRICT THE AUTHORITY OF A GOVERNING BODY OF AN
AGENCY OR MUNICIPALITY TO BIND SUBSEQUENT GOVERNING BODIES OF SUCH AGEN-
CY OR MUNICIPALITY), POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS SHALL ONLY BE VOID, VOID-
ABLE OR TERMINABLE BY EITHER THE THIRD PARTY OWNER OR THE AGENCY, MUNI-
CIPALITY OR PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR NON-PERFORMANCE BY THE OTHER PARTY, AS
SET FORTH IN THE POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT.
4. IN THE CASE OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR A BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCA-
TIONAL SERVICES, A POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT SHALL BE AN ORDINARY CONTIN-
GENT EXPENSE, AND SHALL IN NO EVENT BE CONSTRUED AS OR DEEMED A LEASE OR
LEASE-PURCHASE OF A BUILDING OR FACILITY, FOR PURPOSES OF THE EDUCATION
LAW.
5. AGENCIES, MUNICIPALITIES, AND PUBLIC AUTHORITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO
CONSULT WITH AND SEEK ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE FROM THE NEW YORK STATE
ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY CONCERNING POWER PURCHASE
AGREEMENTS.
6. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, IN ORDER TO CONVEY AN
INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY NECESSARY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES
OR THE OPERATION OF EQUIPMENT PROVIDED FOR IN A POWER PURCHASE AGREE-
MENT, ANY AGENCY, MUNICIPALITY OR PUBLIC AUTHORITY MAY ENTER INTO A
LEASE OR LICENSE OF SUCH REAL PROPERTY TO WHICH IT HOLDS TITLE OR WHICH
IS UNDER ITS ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION AS IS NECESSARY FOR SUCH
CONSTRUCTION OR OPERATION, WITH A POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT, FOR THE SAME
LENGTH OF TIME AS THE TERM OF SUCH POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT, AND ON SUCH
TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS MAY BE AGREEABLE TO THE PARTIES THERETO, AND
NOTWITHSTANDING THAT SUCH REAL PROPERTY MAY REMAIN USEFUL TO SUCH AGEN-
CY, MUNICIPALITY OR PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH SUCH REAL
PROPERTY WAS ORIGINALLY ACQUIRED OR DEVOTED OR FOR WHICH SUCH REAL PROP-
ERTY IS BEING USED.
7. SECTIONS ONE HUNDRED THREE AND ONE HUNDRED NINE-B OF THE GENERAL
MUNICIPAL LAW SHALL APPLY TO THE PROCUREMENT OR ACQUISITION OF A POWER
PURCHASE AGREEMENT AS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS SECTION.
8. THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO DEVELOP A
FORM OF PRE-APPROVED POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT OR BE REQUIRED TO APPROVE
ANY POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS TO BE EXECUTED BY A PARTY IN CONNECTION
WITH THIS, BUT IS AUTHORIZED TO DEVELOP RULES AND REGULATIONS CONCERNING
THE PROCESS FOR ISSUING BUILDING PERMITS AND OPERATIONAL SAFETY IN
RELATION TO THE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES ELIGI-
BLE FOR NET ENERGY METERING PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-SIX-J OR
SIXTY-SIX-L OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW.
S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.