Creates a small business grid renewable energy tax credit; provides the term "business related renewable energy usage" shall refer to renewable power usage used to further the economic activity of the taxpayer at the primary business location that is clearly delimited from any shared renewable energy power usage cost.
This bill creates a new program in New York that requires electricity providers to purchase and retire tradeable geothermal renewable energy credits to support the adoption of geothermal heating and cooling systems. The legislation establishes a geothermal portfolio standard that will gradually increase the percentage of credits providers must acquire, starting at 0.1% in 2027 and reaching 2% by 2032, with a potential increase to 3% after a review. These credits are issued for eligible geothermal installations placed in service after January 1, 2026, and providers who fail to meet the requirement must pay an alternative compliance fee that decreases over time. The bill also creates a dedicated geothermal fund to receive these compliance payments, which will be used for geothermal deployment, workforce training, and low- and moderate-income installations.
This bill requires public schools to provide plant-based food options as an alternative to every meal or snack upon request by a student or their parent. The plant-based option must be offered at no additional cost and must meet USDA standards for meat alternatives, while the school must also include this availability in all food-related written materials. Schools must respond to requests in a reasonable manner, and the requirement applies to all students regardless of whether they have requested the option, though requesting students may still choose non-plant-based meals. The law takes effect immediately but applies to school food service starting one year after enactment.
Enacts the restriction of anticoagulant pesticide transactions for online and retail stores act to prohibit any person from selling, offering for sale or use, or distributing within the state, any second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide; prohibits the use of either a first-generation anticoagulant rodenticide or a second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide within five hundred feet of a wildlife habitat area.
Relates to enacting the "New York photovoltaic module stewardship and take-back program act"; provides that the department of environmental conservation shall develop guidance for a photovoltaic module stewardship and take-back program to guide manufacturers in preparing and implementing a self-directed program to ensure the convenient, safe, and environmentally sound take-back and recycling of photovoltaic modules and their components and materials; establishes the photovoltaic module recycling account for the purpose of paying all costs of the department of environmental conservation for management and administration of the New York photovoltaic module stewardship and take-back program.
Provides a tax exemption from sales and compensating use taxes on alternative energy systems including alternative energy systems, new Energy Star appliances and tangible personal property used in or on habitable residential and non-residential structures to improve energy efficiency; defines relevant terms; authorizes municipalities to adopt the exemption.
This bill directs Governor Kathy Hochul to officially proclaim April 2026 as Native Plant Month in New York State. The resolution recognizes the environmental benefits of native plants, which support local wildlife and ecosystems. It encourages residents to participate in activities like planting native species and removing invasive plants during the designated month. The bill is a ceremonial measure that does not create new laws or regulations but serves to raise public awareness about native plant conservation.
This bill adds Lake Oscawana and Roaring Brook Lake in Putnam County to the official list of major inland lakes in New York State. The change updates the legal definition of inland waterways by including these two specific lakes in the state's existing list of protected water bodies. This amendment affects state environmental regulations and conservation efforts related to these lakes, ensuring they receive the same protections as other major inland lakes already covered by the law. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and does not create new restrictions but rather expands the scope of existing waterway protections.
This bill requires gas stations and large fuel consumers to post bilingual warning signs at fuel pumps stating that the products release air pollutants and greenhouse gases linked to health impacts and climate change. The law applies to retail outlets and wholesale purchasers with storage tanks of at least 550 gallons, mandating that signs be displayed in both English and Spanish with specific lettering requirements. State and municipal officials are authorized to inspect fuel facilities, review records, and issue warnings or fines of up to $1,000 for violations, with violators' names potentially published monthly. Municipalities retain the right to enforce existing local laws on this matter as long as they do not conflict with the new state requirements.
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.
