S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4866--D
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 24, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. KELLES, ZINERMAN, STECK, ARDILA, DINOWITZ, SIMON,
SIMONE, ALVAREZ, MAMDANI, GONZALEZ-ROJAS, COLTON, EPSTEIN, LEVENBERG,
SHRESTHA, STIRPE, SOLAGES, BURGOS, L. ROSENTHAL, REYES, CUNNINGHAM,
DICKENS, THIELE, RAGA, DE LOS SANTOS, STERN, JACOBSON, OTIS, ROZIC,
RAJKUMAR, KIM, ANDERSON, GLICK, SHIMSKY, LUNSFORD, BARRETT, SEAWRIGHT,
BICHOTTE HERMELYN, SANTABARBARA, TAYLOR, CLARK, PAULIN, LAVINE,
CARROLL, FORREST, SLATER, EACHUS, SAYEGH, MAGNARELLI, WOERNER, SILLIT-
TI, WEPRIN, K. BROWN, HUNTER, CRUZ, BENEDETTO, JACKSON, ZACCARO, PRET-
LOW, RIVERA, FAHY, TAPIA, MEEKS, BORES, LEE, HEVESI, BRONSON, WALLACE,
BURKE, DAVILA, SEPTIMO, DILAN, AUBRY, WILLIAMS, BENDETT, GALLAGHER,
BURDICK, DARLING, GIBBS, SEPTIMO, CONRAD, MCGOWAN, FLOOD -- read once
and referred to the Committee on Energy -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee -- again reported from said committee with amendments, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- again
reported from said committee with amendments, ordered reprinted as
amended and recommitted to said committee -- recommitted to the
Committee on Energy in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 --
reported and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
AN ACT enacting the "just energy transition act"
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the "just energy transition act".
§ 2. Legislative findings and statement of purpose. The legislature
hereby finds, determines and declares:
(a) New York state, especially New York city, is reliant on fossil
fuels for energy production, making the transition to renewable sources
for the downstate electricity system key to achieving the requirements
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06171-20-4
A. 4866--D 2
of section 4 of the New York state climate leadership and community
protection act, including that seventy percent of the state's electric-
ity be from renewable energy sources by the year 2030 and that one
hundred percent of the state's electricity be from zero-emission sources
by the year 2040.
(b) New York state is committed to the responsible replacement and
redevelopment of its fossil-fueled power generation facilities that
currently ensure resource adequacy in the state, especially in locations
where the health benefits to historically disadvantaged communities can
be maximized, and where the cost effective phasing-out of such facili-
ties can be done while helping to ensure a just transition for the
existing workforce.
(c) A public policy purpose would be served and the interests of the
people of the state would be advanced by directing the New York state
energy research and development authority, in consultation with the
department of public service and the department of environmental conser-
vation, to continue the development of the study commenced in 2022, as
referenced in the climate action council scoping plan of strategies to
facilitate the replacement and redevelopment of New York's oldest and
most-polluting fossil-fueled power generation facilities and their sites
by 2030, while ensuring resource adequacy, with renewable energy systems
as defined in paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 66-p of the
public service law, energy storage systems, distributed energy resources
and electric bulk transmission systems and equipment.
(d) It is the intent of the legislature in enacting this act to
empower the New York state energy research and development authority,
department of public service, and department of environmental conserva-
tion, to develop a study as described in the climate action council
scoping plan and paragraph (c) of section three of this act in the
manner authorized and directed herein, and for those entities and the
public service commission, and any other agencies or authorities of the
state as may be required, to commence any proceedings or other initi-
atives necessary to carry out the strategies described therein.
§ 3. Just energy transition task force. 1. There is hereby established
the just energy transition task force for the purpose of carrying out
the intent of this section.
2. Membership. The just energy transition task force, herein referred
to as the task force, shall consist of:
(a) the governor or their designee;
(b) the CEO of the department of public service or their designee;
(c) the president of the NYS energy research and development authority
or their designee;
(d) the commissioner of environmental conservation or their designee;
(e) the commissioner of labor or their designee;
(f) the secretary of state or their designee;
(g) the commissioner of economic development or their designee;
(h) the CEO of the NY Power Authority or their designee;
(i) the commissioner of the division of homeland security and emergen-
cy services;
(j) four appointees of the assembly or their designees consisting of
three appointees from the majority and one from the minority; and
(k) four appointees of the state senate or their designees consisting
of three appointees from the majority and one from the minority.
3. Advisory committee. The task force shall appoint an advisory
committee consisting of scientific and technical experts, local offi-
A. 4866--D 3
cials, labor union representatives, environmental groups, and other
interested stakeholders including but not limited to:
(a) a representative of a labor union whose members are employed in
fossil-fueled generation facilities;
(b) a technical expert with knowledge in transitioning fossil-fueled
generation facilities to renewable energy;
(c) a representative of the environmental community;
(d) a representative of local municipalities where fossil-fueled
generation facilities exist; and
(e) a representative of disadvantaged communities.
4. Meetings. (a) Meetings of the task force shall be called by the
governor or their designee.
(b) The task force shall convene at least quarterly during the devel-
opment of the study to provide input and to also provide oversight
during the implementation of the strategies, programs, and standards,
developed pursuant to this section.
(c) Whenever possible, the governor or their designee shall provide
the members of the task force with written notice of at least ten calen-
dar days prior to each meeting of the time, place, and purpose of such
meeting. Such notice shall be accompanied, if practicable, by such back-
ground information as the governor or their designee determines may be
necessary to facilitate discussion at the meeting.
(d) The governor or their designee shall furnish public notice of all
meetings. Meetings of the task force shall be open to the public.
(e) A majority of the task force shall constitute a quorum. No action
may be taken by the task force without a quorum present.
(f) The governor or their designee shall provide for keeping of
minutes of the proceedings of the task force and for the preservation of
documentary records pertaining to the actions and proceedings of the
task force, which may be performed by a secretary to the governor or
their designee.
(g) All decisions or actions by the task force shall require an affir-
mative vote of at least a two-thirds majority of a quorum of the task
force present for a vote.
(h) To the extent practicable, the governor or their designee shall
arrange for the videotaping and livestream of meetings of the task force
for the preservation of video recordings and remote participation of the
public.
§ 4. The New York state energy research and development authority is
authorized and directed to:
(a) develop, through robust public input, a study of options to facil-
itate the phase-out, replacement and redevelopment of New York state's
oldest and most-polluting fossil-fueled power generation facilities and
their sites by the year 2030, with renewable energy systems as defined
in paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 66-p of the public service
law, energy storage systems, distributed energy resources and electric
bulk transmission systems and equipment, while ensuring resource adequa-
cy and other reliability services are maintained, and to do so in
consultation with the department of public service, the department of
environmental conservation, the Long Island power authority, the just
energy transition task force, and other relevant state agencies and
authorities with subject matter expertise, the federally designated
electric bulk system operator, the New York State Reliability Council,
and the local electric utility providers. The study should prioritize
the replacement and redevelopment of such fossil-fueled power generation
facilities with facilities that will directly assist in achieving the
A. 4866--D 4
energy, disadvantaged communities, and emissions reductions requirements
of section 66-p of the public service law. The study shall address the
phase-out of at least four gigawatts of fossil-fueled power generation
statewide capacity in total without compromising reliability and prior-
itize analysis of: projects deployed to replace fossil-fueled power
generation facilities that operate when electricity usage is highest and
are located in or near disadvantaged communities; projects deployed to
replace facilities that have not been in operation for one year or more;
or projects that meet one of the prior two criteria and are shovel-
ready. The study shall include recommendations of standards and
requirements that:
(i) significantly reduce the state's electricity system reliance on
fossil fuels related to electric bulk transmission, taking into account
the requirements and timing of the state's emission reduction programs;
(ii) establish a program to promote investment in eligible technolo-
gies that the public service commission has determined, after notice
and provision for the opportunity to comment, ensure resource adequacy,
while achieving the requirements of section 66-p of the public service
law;
(iii) provide significant environmental, health and other benefits to
disadvantaged communities as such communities will be defined under
section 75-0111 of the environmental conservation law;
(iv) have significant potential for job creation and retention,
economic development, and just transition opportunities benefiting New
Yorkers and the state's workforce, as described in the scoping plan
issued by the climate action council under section 75-0103 of the envi-
ronmental conservation law;
(v) identify funding sources including but not limited to assistance
under the electric generation facility cessation mitigation fund estab-
lished in section 1 of part BB of chapter 58 of the laws of 2016 avail-
able to any local government entity impacted by the replacement and
redevelopment of fossil-fueled power generation facilities under this
section; and
(vi) consider the projected incremental net statewide levelized elec-
tricity rate increase, taking into account any reductions in electricity
or commodity prices, reduced program compliance costs including costs to
meet the requirements of public service law section 66-p and other bene-
fits to ratepayers;
(b) provide public notice of the study, and ensure the results of
the study are made easily accessible to members of disadvantaged commu-
nities, as defined in section 75-0101 of the environmental conservation
law, and provide an opportunity for public comment on the study of not
less than 60 days and conduct at least two public hearings on the
study, of which at least one shall be held in disadvantaged communities,
as defined in section 75-0101 of the environmental conservation law with
such public hearings offering video participation and accessibility;
(c) address public comments and update the study, as appropriate,
especially to ensure resource adequacy and reliability services are
maintained;
(d) deliver the study to the governor, the temporary president of the
senate, the speaker of the assembly, and the just energy transition task
force within 120 days of the effective date of this section;
(e) the governor, assembly, senate, and task force shall provide feed-
back within 60 days of the delivery of the study; and
(f) the public service commission shall incorporate feedback from the
governor, assembly, senate, and the just energy transition task force
A. 4866--D 5
and submit the revised study to the task force for their consideration
and approval. Should such task force reject the revised study, they
shall provide additional feedback and the public service commission
shall update the study within 30 days and resubmit for approval. During
this review process, such task force shall meet as often as necessary to
complete their duty. Should the task force reject the study and require
another 30 days, all due dates pursuant to this section shall be
adjusted accordingly.
§ 5. The authority, in collaboration with the department of public
service, the department of environmental conservation, the Long Island
power authority, and the just energy transition task force, shall
commence proceedings and stakeholder processes to establish programs and
other initiatives necessary to reliably advance the strategies,
programs, standards, and requirements described in the study referred to
in section three of this act within 240 days of the effective date of
this section.
§ 6. The public service commission shall:
(a) commence a proceeding to consider and advance the strategies,
programs, standards, and requirements described in the study referred to
in section three of this act within 270 days of the effective date of
this section; and
(b) issue an order or orders to implement the strategies, programs,
standards, and requirements described in the study referred to in
section three of this act within 360 days of the effective date of this
section. The public service commission shall not issue such order or
orders, make any commitment, enter into any agreement, nor incur any
indebtedness unless pursuant to such order or orders unless prior
approval has been received from the just energy transition task force.
Such order or orders shall at a minimum:
(i) direct the New York state energy research and development authori-
ty to implement an award process to facilitate the replacement and rede-
velopment of at least four gigawatts of fossil-fueled power generation
facilities statewide while maintaining reliability consistent with the
recommendations of the study pursuant to section three of this act, and
as part of such award process, giving consideration to security of
offtake with respect to generation and transmission, and reduction of
emissions from such replaced facilities; and
(ii) direct that with respect to the award process required, the only
eligible electricity generation from hydroelectric facilities shall be
electricity that is generated from non-state-owned low impact run-of-
river facilities located in the state that provide a year-round elec-
tricity capacity resource.
(iii) direct that with respect to such award process, the projected
incremental net statewide levelized electricity rate increase directly
attributable to awarded projects shall not exceed five percent over the
twenty-five year period following the commencement of payment of such
award.
(c)(i) Any projects pursuant to this section, or the study provided
herein, shall be deemed public work and shall be subject to and
performed in accordance with articles 8 and 9 of the labor law. Each
contract for such project shall contain a provision that such project
shall only be undertaken pursuant to a project labor agreement. For
purposes of this section, "project labor agreement" shall mean a pre-
hire collective bargaining agreement between the New York state energy
research and development authority, a third party on behalf of the
authority, or a recipient of support under this section, and a bona fide
A. 4866--D 6
building and construction trade labor organization establishing the
labor organization as the collective bargaining representative for all
persons who will perform work on a public work project, and which
provides that only contractors and subcontractors who sign a pre-negoti-
ated agreement with the labor organization can perform project work. All
contractors and subcontractors associated with this work shall be
required to utilize apprenticeship agreements as defined by article 23
of the labor law.
(ii) The New York state energy research and development authority, or
public service commission, where appropriate, shall include requirements
in any procurement or development of a renewable energy generating
project, as defined in this subdivision, that the components and parts
shall be produced or made in whole or substantial part in the United
States, its territories or possessions. The New York state energy
research and development authority's president and chief executive offi-
cer, or their designee may waive the procurement and development
requirements set forth in this paragraph if such official determines
that: the requirements would not be in the public interest; the require-
ments would result in unreasonable costs; obtaining such infrastructure
components and parts in the United States would increase the cost of a
renewable energy generating project by an unreasonable amount; or such
components or parts cannot be produced, made, or assembled in the United
States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities or of satisfac-
tory quality. Such determination shall be made on an annual basis no
later than December thirty-first, after providing notice and an opportu-
nity for public comment, and such determination shall be made publicly
available, in writing, on the New York state energy research and devel-
opment authority's website with a detailed explanation of the findings
leading to such determination. If the New York state energy research and
development authority's president and chief executive officer, or their
designee, has issued determinations for three consecutive years finding
that no such waiver is warranted pursuant to this paragraph, then the
New York state energy research and development authority shall no longer
be required to provide the annual determination required by this para-
graph.
(d)(i) The commissioner of labor, in consultation with labor organiza-
tions, shall develop a comprehensive plan to transition, train, or
retrain employees that are impacted by projects undertaken pursuant to
this act, or the study provided in section three of this act. This plan
shall include a method of allowing displaced and transitioning workers,
including affected labor organizations, to notify the commissioner of
the loss of employment, their previous title, and previous wage rates
including whether they previously received medical and/or retirement
benefits. The plan shall require employers to notify the commissioner of
workers laid off or discharged due to this act.
(ii) The commissioner of labor shall create a program pursuant to
which, where applicable and feasible, newly created job opportunities
shall be offered to a pool of transitioning workers who have lost their
employment or will be losing their employment in the energy sector
through projects undertaken pursuant to this act, or the study provided
in section three of this act. Such program shall include a method for
the commissioner of labor to communicate names and contact information
for displaced or transitioning workers to public entities that may have
job opportunities for such workers every 90 days.
(e) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, all rights
or benefits, including terms and conditions of employment, and
A. 4866--D 7
protection of civil service and collective bargaining status of all
existing public employees and the work jurisdiction, covered job titles,
and work assignments, set forth in the civil service law and collective
bargaining agreements with labor organizations representing public
employees shall be preserved and protected. Nothing in this section
shall result in the: (i) displacement of any currently employed worker
or loss of position (including partial displacement as such a reduction
in the hours of non-overtime work, wages, or employment benefits) or
result in the impairment of existing collective bargaining agreements;
(ii) transfer of existing duties and functions related to maintenance
and operations currently performed by existing employees of authorized
entities to a contracting entity; or (iii) transfer of future duties and
functions ordinarily performed by employees of authorized entities to a
contracting entity.
§ 7. The Long Island power authority shall establish a program or
programs in its service territory consistent with the recommendation of
the study conducted pursuant to section three of this act, the
provisions of section five of this act, and the purposes of this act.
§ 8. This act shall take effect immediately.