This bill prohibits government incentives for commercial renewable energy projects like solar farms in sensitive environmental areas and on active farmland, with specific exceptions for agrivoltaic systems that combine solar power with agriculture. It removes eligibility for financial assistance, zero emission credits, and tax exemptions for such projects located in critical environmental areas, bird conservation zones, grassland bird centers, and wildlife management areas. The legislation also formally defines agrivoltaics as solar systems that simultaneously produce energy and agricultural products without displacing farming activities, while excluding certain practices like sole reliance on pollinator habitats or sheep grazing. These changes directly affect developers proposing renewable energy projects and government agencies administering agricultural and environmental programs.
This bill repeals a future rule that would have prohibited fossil fuel equipment (like gas furnaces or water heaters) in new buildings starting in 2026. It removes the restriction from state law, meaning new buildings constructed after 2026 could still use fossil fuel-based systems without legal barriers. The repeal directly affects builders, developers, and property owners constructing new buildings in New York State. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill prohibits the use of grade 4 fuel oil (as defined by ASTM D396-15c) in all buildings and facilities across the state after July 1, 2030. It directly affects property owners, businesses, and institutions currently using this fuel type for heating or energy. The law implements a specific date-based ban, with an exception allowing municipalities to adopt stricter regulations. The policy change requires facilities to transition to alternative fuel sources or systems by the 2030 deadline.
Establishes the "garden protection act", protecting the rights of individuals to cultivate home vegetable gardens, native plant gardens, and/or pollinator gardens.
Enacts the "Customer Savings and Reliability Act" in relation to regional affordable gas transition plans to guide an orderly, affordable, and equitable right-sizing of the utility gas system in a manner that aligns with climate justice and emissions reduction provisions.
Enacts the low impact landscaping rights act, preventing homeowners' associations from adopting or enforcing any rules or regulations that would effectively prohibit, or impose unreasonable limitations on, the installation or maintenance of low impact landscaping.
Relates to the climate change adaptation cost recovery program and requirements for climate change adaptive infrastructure projects; relates to the use of funds from the climate change adaptation fund for certain projects; relates to the disclosure of certain data from returns of petroleum or fossil fuel businesses; relates to expenditure of funds from the climate change adaptation fund; repeals certain provisions; relates to severability and legislative findings.
