Senate Bill S8566

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8566

SPONSOR: MATTERA
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act directing the New York state energy research and development
authority to conduct a feasibility study on geothermal energy

 
PURPOSE:

To have the New York state energy research and development authority to
conduct a feasibility study and prepare a report on the benefits and
implementation of use of geothermal energy, to study the potential
impact and cost.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. The New York state energy research and development authority,
in conjunction with the department of environmental conservation, shall
conduct a feasibility study and prepare a report on the benefits and
implementation of geothermal energy. Such study will analyze the poten-
tial impacts and costs of geothermal energy.
              

Section 2. Within one year of the effective date of this act, the New
York state energy research and development authority shall issue a
report of the findings of the feasibility study to the governor, the
temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly.

Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

With New York State's decision to rapidly move away from clean natural
gas and other energy sources, the unfortunate reality is that there are
some issues with the efforts to comply with the CLCPA (Climate Leader-
ship and Community Protection Act) and that may impact every day New
Yorkers. Many in the energy industry have expressed serious concerns
that the cost estimates associated with the CLCPA mandates have been
woefully short of the true cost to ratepayers and that the current ener-
gy infrastructure will be unable to handle demand that the CLPCA will
put on it.

Due to these concerns, and others, our state must take immediate steps
to ensure we are utilizing every possible source of energy to best
protect the economic future of our residents while ensuring they have
access to the energy they need, particularly in the harsh winter months.

One source to consider is geothermal energy. As we move into the future,
it is incumbent on New York State to explore all options for heating and
cooling sources and this source has great potential and New York State
should examine its benefits to protect all New Yorkers.

While the CLCPA implementation is still flawed, we must move forward
with a clear plan to protect our residents from exceedingly increasing
costs. This bill will help find those answers to protect New York resi-
dents.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately