Senate Bill S1260

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S1260

SPONSOR: FUNKE
 
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 attri-
butes 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 generat-
ing 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 impor-
tant 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.