NY State Senate Bill 2017-S5445

Senate Bill S5445

2017-2018 Legislative Session

Authorizes public utility companies to purchase, own and operate small wind turbines and solar photovoltaic systems

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Energy And Telecommunications Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 26, 2018	print number 5445a
Jan 26, 2018	amend and recommit to energy and telecommunications
Jan 03, 2018	referred to energy and telecommunications
Mar 29, 2017	referred to energy and telecommunications

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

co-Sponsors

2017-S5445 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5397
Current Committee:: Senate Energy And Telecommunications
Law Section:: Public Service Law
Laws Affected:: Add §66-i, Pub Serv L
Versions Introduced in 2015-2016 Legislative Session:: S7821, A9307

2017-S5445 - Summary

Authorizes public utility companies to purchase, own and operate small wind turbines and photovoltaic systems on their property.

2017-S5445 - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S5445

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the public service law, in relation
to allowing public utilities to purchase, own and operate small wind
turbines and solar photovoltaic systems

 PURPOSE :

To allow public utilities to purchase, own and operate small wind
turbines and solar photovoltaic systems.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

§ 1- Amends the Public Service Law by adding a new section 66-i to
allow, starting September 1, 2017, a public utility company to
purchase, own and operate small wind turbines and solar photovoltaic
systems on land that is owned by or accessible to, the public utility
company and shall be directly connected to the public utility's
electric grid.

§ 2- Effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

New York State began permitting energy consumers to utilize net
metering in 1997 for on-site renewable energy systems to promote the

installation of renewable energy sources while reducing the consumer's
utility bills. Over the years, the New York State Legislature has
expanded the ability for consumers to obtain on-site renewable energy
systems. As a result, New York State has seen a dramatic increase in
the use of both wind turbines and solar photovoltaic systems to
produce energy. The use of such systems helps to offset the use of
fossil fuels.

However, current NYS regulations preclude public utilities, including
investor-owned and municipal electric utility companies, from
purchasing, owning and operating small wind turbines or photovoltaic
systems as is permitted under Federal Law. This requires the utility
companies to rely heavily on fossil fuels to generate energy.
Allowing publicly owned utility companies' ownership of such on-site
renewable energy systems can very rapidly accelerate the use of
alternative energy, provide far lower energy costs to consumers and
improve security through distributed generation.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2015-2016: A.9307/S.7821.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
120 days.

2017-S5445 - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5445
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 29, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. GRIFFO, GALLIVAN, KENNEDY, ORTT, RANZENHOFER -- read
   twice  and  ordered  printed,  and when printed to be committed to the
   Committee on Energy and Telecommunications
 
 AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to  allowing  public
   utilities  to  purchase, own and operate small wind turbines and solar
   photovoltaic systems

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The public service law is amended by adding a new section
 66-i to read as follows:
   § 66-I. PURCHASE OF WIND TURBINES. 1. COMMENCING SEPTEMBER FIRST,  TWO
 THOUSAND  SEVENTEEN,  A  PUBLIC  UTILITY COMPANY MAY PURCHASE SMALL WIND
 TURBINES AND SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS. SUCH COMPANIES MAY OPERATE  THE
 WIND  TURBINES  AND SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS ON LAND THAT IS OWNED, OR
 ACCESSIBLE TO, THE PUBLIC UTILITY  COMPANY.  THE  TURBINES  AND  SYSTEMS
 SHALL BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE PUBLIC UTILITY'S ELECTRIC GRID.
   2.  ANY  WIND  TURBINE  OR  SOLAR  PHOTOVOLTAIC  SYSTEM  PURCHASED AND
 INSTALLED BY A PUBLIC UTILITY COMPANY MUST COMPLY WITH  ALL  LOCAL  LAWS
 AND ORDINANCES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
   (A) HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS;
   (B) NOISE RESTRICTIONS;
   (C) SAFETY PROCEDURES;
   (D) SPECIFIED ALLOTMENT OF EQUIPMENT ON A SPECIFIC PARCEL OF LAND; AND
   (E)  THE  USE  OF  CERTIFIED  INDIVIDUALS  FOR  THE  INSTALLATION  AND
 CONNECTION OF THE EQUIPMENT.
   3. ALL TURBINES AND SYSTEMS PURCHASED AND INSTALLED PURSUANT  TO  THIS
 SECTION  MUST  BE  APPROVED  BY  THE  LOCAL  MUNICIPALITY  IN WHICH SUCH
 TURBINES AND SYSTEMS ARE BEING OPERATED.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
 it shall have become a law.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07506-02-7

co-Sponsors

2017-S5445A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5397
Current Committee:: Senate Energy And Telecommunications
Law Section:: Public Service Law
Laws Affected:: Add §66-i, Pub Serv L
Versions Introduced in 2015-2016 Legislative Session:: S7821, A9307

2017-S5445A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Authorizes public utility companies to purchase, own and operate small wind turbines and photovoltaic systems on their property.

2017-S5445A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S5445A

SPONSOR: GRIFFO
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the public service law, in relation to
allowing public utilities to purchase, own and operate small wind
turbines and solar photovoltaic systems

 
PURPOSE:

To allow public utilities to purchase, own and operate small wind
turbines and solar photovoltaic systems.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

§ 1- Amends the Public Service Law by adding a new section 66-i to
allow, starting September 1, 2018, a public utility company to purchase,
own and operate small wind turbines and solar photovoltaic systems on
land that is owned by or accessible to, the public utility company and
shall be directly connected to the public utility's electric grid.

§ 2- Effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York State began permitting energy consumers to utilize net metering
in 1997 for on-site renewable energy systems to promote the installation
of renewable energy sources while reducing the consumer's utility bills.
Over the years, the New York State Legislature has expanded the ability
for consumers to obtain on-site renewable energy systems. As a result,
New York State has seen a dramatic increase in the use of both wind
turbines and solar photovoltaic systems to produce energy. The use of
such systems helps to offset the use of fossil fuels.

However, current NYS regulations preclude public utilities, including
investor-owned and municipal electric utility companies, from purchas-
ing, owning and operating small wind turbines or photovoltaic systems as
is permitted under Federal Law. This requires the utility companies to
rely heavily on fossil fuels to generate energy.  Allowing publicly
owned utility companies' ownership of such on-site renewable energy
systems can very rapidly accelerate the use of alternative energy,
provide far lower energy costs to consumers and improve security through
distributed generation.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2015-2016: A.9307/S.7821.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
120 days.

2017-S5445A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  5445--A
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 29, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. GRIFFO, GALLIVAN, KENNEDY, ORTT, RANZENHOFER -- read
   twice  and  ordered  printed,  and when printed to be committed to the
   Committee on Energy  and  Telecommunications  --  recommitted  to  the
   Committee  on  Energy and Telecommunications in accordance with Senate
   Rule  6,  sec.  8  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the public service law, in relation to allowing public
   utilities to purchase, own and operate small wind turbines  and  solar
   photovoltaic systems
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The public service law is amended by adding a  new  section
 66-i to read as follows:
   §  66-I. PURCHASE OF WIND TURBINES. 1. COMMENCING SEPTEMBER FIRST, TWO
 THOUSAND EIGHTEEN, A PUBLIC UTILITY  COMPANY  MAY  PURCHASE  SMALL  WIND
 TURBINES  AND SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS. SUCH COMPANIES MAY OPERATE THE
 WIND TURBINES AND SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS ON LAND THAT IS  OWNED,  OR
 ACCESSIBLE  TO,  THE  PUBLIC  UTILITY  COMPANY. THE TURBINES AND SYSTEMS
 SHALL BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE PUBLIC UTILITY'S ELECTRIC GRID.
   2. ANY  WIND  TURBINE  OR  SOLAR  PHOTOVOLTAIC  SYSTEM  PURCHASED  AND
 INSTALLED  BY  A  PUBLIC UTILITY COMPANY MUST COMPLY WITH ALL LOCAL LAWS
 AND ORDINANCES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
   (A) HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS;
   (B) NOISE RESTRICTIONS;
   (C) SAFETY PROCEDURES;
   (D) SPECIFIED ALLOTMENT OF EQUIPMENT ON A SPECIFIC PARCEL OF LAND; AND
   (E)  THE  USE  OF  CERTIFIED  INDIVIDUALS  FOR  THE  INSTALLATION  AND
 CONNECTION OF THE EQUIPMENT.
   3.  ALL  TURBINES AND SYSTEMS PURCHASED AND INSTALLED PURSUANT TO THIS
 SECTION MUST BE  APPROVED  BY  THE  LOCAL  MUNICIPALITY  IN  WHICH  SUCH
 TURBINES AND SYSTEMS ARE BEING OPERATED.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
 it shall have become a law.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07506-03-8

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Senate Bill S5445

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Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Energy And Telecommunications Committee

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2017-S5445 - Details

2017-S5445 - Summary

2017-S5445 - Sponsor Memo

2017-S5445 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2017-S5445A (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S5445A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S5445A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S5445A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments