Sponsorship

A.9071 - BENEDETTO, KELLNER, BOYLAND, FIELDS, LAFAYETTE, HEVESI, SCHIMEL, maisel

Memorandum in Support

BILL NUMBER: A9071

TITLE OF BILL : An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to creating the "New York state algae biodiesel pilot program"; makes an appropriation therefor and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL : This legislation would allocate $20 million for a five-year pilot program for research and development of algae biodiesel productions, and establish a bidding process overseen by NYSERDA.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS : Section 1. titles the bill the "New York State Algae Biodiesel Pilot Program."

Section 2. amends the public authorities law, adding a new section 1884. The section defines the terms "algae" and "biodiesel," outlines the bidding process, establishes key goals that the pilot program must address, and requires reports to be filed at the conclusions of the bidding process and the pilot program.

Section 3. allocates $20 million for the pilot program from funds in the state treasury.

Section 4. sets the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION : Biodiesel made from algae is an emerging biofuel with the potential to generate much of New York`s biodiesel needs. The rapid growth and high oil content of algae make it especially suited for biodiesel production, allowing for a gallon-per-acre yield many times greater than biofuels made from traditional crops. Experts have projected this figure at between five and IS-thousand gallons per acre per year.

Yet many technological hurdles must be overcome before New York can produce economically feasible algae biodiesel. These include, but are not limited to, identification of the optimum form of production facility for New York, creation or identification of the highest-yielding strain of algae that is best suited for New York`s climate, and potential for integration with existing facilities such as wastewater plants and factories. The five-year program outlined in this bill would work to achieve these goals, positioning New York State as a national leader in the promising technology of algae biodiesel.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY : New bill

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS : $20 million, or as much as may be necessary, allocated from the state treasury.

EFFECTIVE DATE : Immediately, repealed five years after becoming law.

Sponsorship

A.7067 - MILLMAN, KOON, FIELDS, LUPARDO, STIRPE, LAFAYETTE, GALEF, KAVANAGH, MAISEL, PAULIN, boyland, brook-krasny, camara, colton, farrell, gunther, jacobs, lancman, markey, pheffer, rosenthal, sweeney / - 1

Memorandum in Support

BILL NUMBER: A7067

TITLE OF BILL : An act to amend the public service law, in relation to net energy metering

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

Provides the expansion of net metering of electricity to multiple forms of renewable energy generators and eligible sectors, as well as an increase in the limit to the system size of eligible generators and the minimum enrollment cap.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

* Section 1 increases the limit on alternative energy generator`s system size of solar and biogas to two megawatts.

* Section 2 repeals the program enrollment cap on solar and biogas based systems.

* Section 3 increases the limit on wind electric energy generators to two megawatts.

* Section 4 repeals the program enrollment cap on wind generator based systems.

* Section 5 expands net metering to include the following systems of energy generation: solar thermal, landfill gas, hydroelectric, geothermal, tidal, wave or alternative energy fuel cell source.

JUSTIFICATION :

The current state policy on net metering is outdated and restrictive since:

* Only the agricultural and residential sectors are eligible to participate in the net metering program.

* The current policy on net metering is restricted to solar panels, wind generators and biogas sources.

* The law also dictates a limit on the size of the system generators. Residential solar generators are limited to 10 kilowatts, residential wind generators are limited to 25 kilowatts, agricultural wind generators are limited to 125 kilowatts and agricultural biogas generators are limited to 400 kilowatts.

* Utility companies adhere to a restrictive minimum enrollment cap. The minimum enrollment amount is calculated as solar energy, the 1996 demand for biogas energy generators. This minimum amount of enrollees is calculated from within the different regions of New York State.

This piece of legislation seeks to update these outdated policies by:

* Expanding net metering to the industrial and commercial sectors.

* Allowing any renewable fuel source the opportunity to be eligible for the net metering of energy.

* Allowing a wider variety of energy types the opportunity into net metering, such as: solar thermal, landfill gas, hydroelectric, geothermal, an aerobic digestion, tidal, wave and any fuel cells that are based upon renewable energy sources.

* Increasing the cap of the any renewable energy system generator to two megawatts, without concern of the type or sector of the generator. * Eliminating restrictive net metering enrollment caps, so that any interested parties would be eligible to participate.

An update to the state`s net metering policies is imperative because:

* The alternative and renewable fuel market will have to become the main support for the demand for energy in New York State.

* Since implementation, several technological advances have outdated the laws that are currently in place.

* New York State is far behind the future of the alternative and renewable energy market.

* The current laws on net metering are too restrictive as an incentive for the promotion of alternative and renewable fuels.

* By expanding the original net metering laws, the market for these cost saving energy generators would grow exponentially and this market may be able to provide Upstate New York with a source of jobs.

* Commercial and industrial sectors make up the majority of the demand for the usage of electricity.

* This would allow upstate businesses a greater incentive in creating and maintaining businesses in Upstate New York.

* An increase in the supply of electricity, especially renewable energy, would reduce the strain on the state`s power grid.

* It would bring New York State on a level playing field with the numerous other states (New Jersey, Colorado, California) that have net metering program that are much more advanced than New York`s current policy.

* In this age of increased environmental awareness net metering would reduce New York State`s share of pollution that perpetuates global warming.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY : New Bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS : None.

EFFECTIVE DATE : Immediately

Sponsorship

S.4366 - MARCELLINO, BONACIC, LARKIN, LITTLE, MAZIARZ, MORAHAN, RATH, WINNER / - 1

Sponsorship

S.3073 - / - -2

Sponsorship

S.3074 - / - -3

Sponsorship

A.2162 - GALEF, PAULIN, SWEENEY, DINOWITZ, BRADLEY, BOYLAND, ERRIGO, LAVINE, GIGLIO, ALFANO, GORDON T, LUPARDO, SPANO, barra, calhoun, christensen, clark, hooper, jacobs, john, lafayette, magee, mcdonough, mceneny, mckevitt, molinaro, peoples, perry, pheffer, robinson, stirpe, thiele, townsend, walker, / S.8565 - Not available at this time.

Memorandum in Support

BILL NUMBER:A2162A

TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to expanding the products which may be purchased for public use

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: Encourage the use of renewable energy by local governments

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section 1: Includes renewable energy, as defined by the New York State Public Service Commission as biomass, solar, wind, photovoltaics, methane waste, tidal, geothermal, and fuel cell technologies which may be purchased for public use.

Section 2: Defines "reasonably competitive" prices for renewable energy resources as fifteen percent above the cost of a comparable product. This is the same percentage used in defining "reasonably competitive" for products which a locality can purchase if they are composed of at least fifty percent recycled material.

JUSTIFICATION: Under the General Municipal Law, products which are bought for public use must be bought from the lowest bid. However, under Section 104-a, recycled products can be purchased for public use even if they are not the lowest priced product. As the law currently stands, energy is not included under Section 104-a. However, the aim of the original law was to promote environmentally friendly purchasing or at minimum not discourage the purchasing of environmentally friendly products, therefore it makes sense to include renewable energy. Allowing localities to purchase renewable energy at a slightly higher premium, in lieu of a cheaper but less ecologically sound form of energy, is a logical continuation of the current state policy.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: A6571 of 2005/2006 A10421 of 2003-2004

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Allows localities to purchase renewable energy. No fiscal impact upon the state.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1 after the bill becomes law. However, the authority to add, amend or repeal the rules or regulations is granted immediately in order that the necessary changes can be made and completed by the effective date.

Sponsorship

A.7451 - FARRELL, GOTTFRIED, ROSENTHAL, KAVANAGH, alfano, mceneny / S.4482 - SKELOS, MARCELLINO.

Memorandum in Support

BILL NUMBER:A7451 REVISED 4/24/07

TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the tax law, in relation to solar energy system equipment

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: By allowing for tax credits equal to 25 percent of the cost of installing larger solar electric-generating systems, the bill would make solar a viable option for multi-unit dwell- ings like housing co-ops and condominiums.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section I allows a member of a condomin- ium management association or tenant-stockholder in a cooperative hous- ing corporation to claim a proportionate share of the total expense as the expenditure for the purposes of the credit attributable to his prin- cipal residence

Section 2 increases from 10kW to 50 kW the size of the solar energy system eligible for the tax credit being claimed by a condominium management association or a cooperative housing corporation.

JUSTIFICATION: In light of the blackouts and brownouts of the past several years, the increasing instability in much of the oil producing parts of the world, and a growing population that is only going to increase our energy use, it is clear that the years ahead will require us to rethink existing energy policy and explore alternate means of energy production.

Solar energy, specifically, the use of sunlight to generate electricity, is not only renewable, but is effective and efficient as well. However, solar is under represented in our energy portfolio, and current law allows tax benefits only for smaller, single-dwelling systems. This bill would encourage large multi-unit dwellings like co-ops and condominiums common in New York City to install solar systems that would both reduce the burden on the electric grid and reduce pollution. In fact, one 217- unit co-op estimates it can save 50 tons of C02 pollution per year by generating sufficient electricity to power the common areas of the building such as lobbies, hallways and elevators. By encouraging this type of private investment in updating our energy systems, this bill will help establish New York as a leader in energy policy and demon- strate the effectiveness and practicality of solar energy in small- and large-scale applications alike.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New bill

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Less than $1 million to the state.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately