This bill repeals New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which established the state's primary climate goals including 100% clean electricity by 2040. It removes the legal framework for climate targets, renewable energy requirements, and related provisions for disadvantaged communities. The bill also makes technical updates to references in other laws that previously cited the repealed CLCPA. This action eliminates the state's binding climate policy without creating new requirements.
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.
Enacts the climate and community investment act; prioritizes the allocation of public investments in disadvantaged communities; addresses climate change challenges through the expansion and growth of clean and renewable energy sources; adopts best value requirements for the solicitation, evaluation and award of renewable energy projects; establishes a community just transition program; establishes a climate pollution fee and a household and small business energy rebate; creates the climate and community investment authority.
Requires the public service commission establish a grid modernization surcharge imposed on utilities for the energy use of data centers and high-intensity data centers which meet a specified threshold of electricity or information-technology load; establishes the grid modernization fund to finance investments in system reliability, capacity expansion, and integration of clean energy resources.
Requires the office of renewable energy siting and electric transmission to establish and/or amend rules and regulations pertaining to standards related to the siting, design, construction and operation of major renewable energy facilities; requires such rules and regulations to include information relating to farmland protection and application procedures; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof.
Requires contractors and subcontractors performing construction work for covered renewable energy systems to have apprenticeship agreements; relates to the effectiveness of provisions of law related thereto.
Authorizes ORES to issue siting permits for battery energy storage systems for use by data centers, regardless of the expected storage or transmission capacity of such battery energy storage systems, and whether or not such battery energy storage systems will be co-located with renewable energy systems; requires data centers to submit carbon reduction plans.
Provides an exemption from requirements for the alienation of parkland for renewable energy generating projects with a generating capacity not exceeding two megawatts and which are located above real property currently used for vehicle parking.
Prohibits the issuing of major renewable energy and major electric transmission facility siting permits in designated grassland bird conservation centers including, but not limited to, three such centers in Jefferson county, one center in Saint Lawrence county, the Oak-Orchard-Iroquois center, the Washington County Grasslands center, the Finger Lakes National Forest center and the Shawangunk Grasslands.
Requires contractors and subcontractors performing construction work for covered renewable energy systems to have apprenticeship agreements; relates to the effectiveness of provisions of law related thereto.
