Establishes the college of renewable energy and sustainability in the city university of New York which shall offer majors relating to the field of renewable energy and sustainability.
Excludes solar or wind energy projects in the county of Lewis that were already in existence on the effective date of Part N of chapter 59 of the laws of 2023 from certain appraisal models and discount rates.
Enacts the "public renewables transparency act"; relates to the New York power authority's conferral process; requires the conferral report be posted on the authority's website; provides that the authority shall provide an option for stakeholders to submit comments remotely as well, and incorporate feedback from such sessions and written comments into the final draft of the strategic plan; makes related provisions.
S 5408 authorizes NYSERDA to distribute $500 million for zero-emission school buses and supporting infrastructure, requiring contractors (like dealers, manufacturers, and retrofit companies) to submit a "New York jobs plan" detailing job creation, wages, benefits, and environmental commitments. The jobs plan must include specifics on hiring displaced workers, creating jobs in disadvantaged communities, using recycled materials, and responsibly sourcing minerals like lithium and cobalt. Incentive amounts for bus purchases or conversions are determined by the jobs plan, with higher payments for meeting goals related to job quality and community benefits. This directly affects school districts purchasing buses, contractors, and their suppliers.
Requires consideration of evidence relating to the economic impact of major increases of rates or charges upon consumers and the areas affected by such increases of rates or charges prior to approval of any such rates or charges; establishes minimum data to be considered by the public service commission relating to such economic impact.
Directs the department of public service to promulgate rules, regulations and model policies regarding setback requirements for the siting of battery energy storage systems; requires minimum setback requirements for commercial energy storage systems, with a capacity of three megawatts or greater, of no less than seven hundred fifty feet from residential property and no less than three hundred feet from residential property located in a city with a population of one million or more inhabitants; requires public hearings prior to the approval of an application for a permit for such systems.
Eliminates the necessity for solar and wind energy systems to supply certain information in electric generating facility annual reports; repeals provisions relating to solar or wind energy systems.
Ensures the safe and efficient delivery of materials for the timely construction of major renewable energy facilities in furtherance of the goals mandated by the New York state climate leadership and community protection act; provides that vehicles carrying materials intended for the construction of any major renewable energy facility, including oversize and superload transport vehicles, shall be permitted to travel on the thruway and state highways, on any day of the week, including Saturday and Sunday.
Provides an exemption for the purposes of allowing the installation and use of fossil-fuel equipment and building systems where such are installed and used in a building or part of a building that is owned or occupied by a person who holds genuine and sincere religious beliefs and whose health and safety will be jeopardized due to the prohibition of the installation of fossil-fuel equipment and building systems because of such genuine and sincere religious beliefs.
This bill requires New York's gas utilities to develop and implement hybrid heating pilot programs. These programs pair heat pumps with gas heating systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining reliable heating, especially in cold weather. Utilities must submit detailed plans within six months, prioritizing low-income households and disadvantaged communities, and track participation and emissions data. The state will allow utilities to recover installation costs over five years through customer surcharges, with annual reports required to evaluate performance and cost savings.
