Establishes a community wind energy pilot program

S 3617 creates a New York State pilot program allowing consumers to subscribe to community wind energy projects. It requires the Public Service Commission to establish the program, letting residents pay a one-time fee (capped at $500 per subscription) to fund wind installations up to 2,000 kilowatts. Subscribers receive quarterly dividends based on energy generated, paid at retail rates, while the state owns the installations and sells excess energy to utilities. The program reserves 1% of subscriber payments to fund future installations after the initial project is paid off. This directly affects New York residents who participate as subscribers and the state as the program’s operator.