S 4408 allows New York's state environmental department to create leases or easements for renewable energy projects (like solar and wind farms) on state-owned lands designated for reforestation. These agreements must not interfere with the reforestation purposes of the land, as defined by New York's constitution. The bill requires all such agreements to be publicly recorded and posted online. It directly affects the state department, renewable energy developers, and the management of reforestation areas.
S 98 requires electric corporations to cover the costs of "make-ready" infrastructure needed to charge electric vehicles for public fleets, such as government-owned buses, police cars, and school district vehicles. It mandates that corporations include 100% of their own infrastructure costs (like transformers and wiring) and at least 50% of customer infrastructure costs (like site wiring) in their rates - increasing to 90% in disadvantaged communities - so these expenses are shared across all utility customers instead of paid directly by fleet operators. This reduces upfront financial barriers for public entities transitioning to electric fleets while ensuring infrastructure costs are recovered through standard rate structures. The bill applies specifically to state, municipal, school district, and public authority fleets, not private businesses.
Places a one year moratorium on the issuance of data center permits; requires utilities to establish an independent classification of service for large data centers; sets energy efficiency goals for data centers; provides for benefits for host communities; sets labor standards for the construction of data centers.
Provides that the New York state energy research and development authority shall provide information to residential and commercial consumers regarding renewable energy technology incentive and affordability programs through a variety of methods, including brochures, posters, social media, television ads, and public ambassadors.
Directs the New York state energy research and development authority to establish a floating solar incentive and education program to provide information and resources including technical assistance, access to industry standards, and financing available through the authority or other public or private sector sources, to municipalities, developers, builders, design professionals, and potential owners for the construction of floating solar.
Establishes the New York State grid reliability and energy affordability transition (GREAT) act; establishes the virtual power plant program to help reduce energy costs and grid reliability risks; provides incentives to participants for supporting the grid by investing in distributed energy resources and reducing net energy costs.
Directs electric corporations and combination electric and gas corporations to file a cost-effectiveness and timetable analysis as part of any base rate proceeding with the public service commission; directs NYSERDA to conduct a study on the effectiveness of advanced transmission technologies.
Requires certain construction project contracts with a value of greater than or equal to five million dollars to include siting of renewable energy systems, qualified energy storage systems, or major electric transmission facilities.
Prohibits local governments from prohibiting the construction, installation, or operation of carport-mounted solar energy systems with a nameplate capacity of five megawatts or less, in any non-residential zoning district or mixed commercial and residential zoning district of any such city, town or village, provided however, if the zoning district is a certified agricultural district the agricultural impacts of the projects shall be minimized to the extent practicable.
Requires the office of renewable energy siting and electric transmission to establish a mapping, installation and efficiency plan for the purpose of building new electric transmission lines.
