Senate Bill S3983B

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S3983

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the public service law, in relation
to limiting surcharges imposed on ratepayers

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

To ensure that subsidies for renewable and clean energy projects are
used only to support in-state projects

 SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

Section one: Disallows the use of surcharges from any current or
future clean energy project from subsidizing projects outside the
state or the country. Further, this section makes it clear that
environmental attributes from such projects may not be counted against
emissions goals or standards established for New York State.

Section Two-Sets forth the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

New York State is engaged in the much needed and beneficial process of
reshaping its clean and renewable energy markets through various
proceedings active before the Public Service Commission (PSC). These
include various programs to subsidize both renewable energy projects
              

as well as Upstate nuclear assets. These subsidies are necessary in
order for the State to meet its goal of producing 50% of its energy
from clean or renewable sources by 2030. This is a laudable goal that
all should support. However, there are real doubts from the energy
sector that these goals can be met with in-state resources. Despite
the welcome expansion of support for solar and other renewable
technologies, it is hard to see how these alone will allow us to meet
the 50% goal. While projects like the Champlain-Hudson Power Express,
a 333-mile line from Canada directly into New York City have stalled,
it is easy to see how this and other projects that would deliver
hydropower from Quebec to New York City could restart if they received
ratepayer support. The purpose of this bill is to prevent that
eventuality from coming to pass. As we move toward supporting
procurement that favors American made goods at both the State and
National levels. The last thing we should do is allow the
contemplation of any policy that would outsource our power generating
industry.  Allowing the construction and development of new renewable
and clean sources of power and appropriate storage technology right
here in New York is the proper way to move toward achieving our 50 by
30 goals. The enactment of this bill will quell any speculation that
the State will move to subsidize and import hydropower or other
sources of clean energy from Canada or any other state. Given the
Governor's announcement concerning the closure of Indian Point it is
vitally important that we make it clear that replacement solutions
must be constructed here, not imported from other places using
ratepayer dollars.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New Bill

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S3983A

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the public service law, in relation
to limiting surcharges imposed on ratepayers

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

To ensure that subsidies for renewable and clean energy projects are
used only to support in-state projects

 SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

Section one: Disallows the use of surcharges from any current or
future clean energy project from subsidizing projects outside the
state or the country. Further, this section makes it clear that
environmental attributes from such projects may not be counted against
emissions goals or standards established for New York State.

Section Two-Sets forth the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

New York State is engaged in the much needed and beneficial process of
reshaping its clean and renewable energy markets through various
proceedings active before the Public Service Commission (PSC). These
include various programs to subsidize both renewable energy projects
              

as well as Upstate nuclear assets. These subsidies are necessary in
order for the State to meet its goal of producing 50% of its energy
from clean or renewable sources by 2030. This is a laudable goal that
all should support. However, there are real doubts from the energy
sector that these goals can be met with in-state resources. Despite
the welcome expansion of support for solar and other renewable
technologies, it is hard to see how these alone will allow us to meet
the 50% goal. While projects like the Champlain-Hudson Power Express,
a 333-mile line from Canada directly into New York City have stalled,
it is easy to see how this and other projects that would deliver
hydropower from Quebec to New York City could restart if they received
ratepayer support. The purpose of this bill is to prevent that
eventuality from coming to pass. As we move toward supporting
procurement that favors American made goods at both the State and
National levels. The last thing we should do is allow the
contemplation of any policy that would outsource our power generating
industry. Allowing the construction and development of new renewable
and clean sources of power and appropriate storage technology right
here in New York is the proper way to move toward achieving our 50 by
30 goals. The enactment of this bill will quell any speculation that
the State will move to subsidize and import hydropower or other
sources of clean energy from Canada or any other state. Given the
Governor's announcement concerning the closure of Indian Point it is
vitally important that we make it clear that replacement solutions
must be constructed here, not imported from other places using
ratepayer dollars.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New Bill

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None