Bill Text: NY A05914 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Relates to refuge facilities; defines terms; exempts any refuge facility that is registered with the state emergency management office from payment of any exit fee or any lost revenue resultant from the installation and operation of cogeneration equipment at the refuge facility; provides financial assistance for the installation of cogeneration technologies for the purpose of creating and maintaining refuge facilities pursuant to article twenty-two of the energy law.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 22-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-20 - print number 5914a [A05914 Detail]
Download: New_York-2011-A05914-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 5914 2011-2012 Regular Sessions I N A S S E M B L Y March 2, 2011 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. KAVANAGH, GALEF, JAFFEE, MILLMAN, ROSENTHAL, SCARBOROUGH -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CLARK, COLTON, GLICK, GOTTFRIED, HIKIND, HOOPER, V. LOPEZ, MAYERSOHN, McENENY, PHEFFER, J. RIVERA, ROBINSON, SWEENEY, THIELE, WEISENBERG, WRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Energy AN ACT to amend the energy law, the public authorities law and the public service law, in relation to refuge facilities THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. The legislature hereby finds that there is a need to 2 protect the public from potential disruptions to the energy transmission 3 and distribution system, whether caused by natural or man-made occur- 4 rences. Such needs can be met through the creation of refuge facilities 5 in every locality in the state that can assure the public of continuous 6 provision of electric, heat and other necessary utility services in 7 times of disruption of the delivery of such services. Such refuge facil- 8 ities shall be either existing or new buildings which have energy and 9 heat producing equipment and which provide electricity and heat through 10 such on-site technologies and that such equipment is capable of opera- 11 tion independent of the receipt of power or other services from the 12 local electric utility transmission and distribution system. 13 The legislature also finds that, in order to promote the development 14 of appropriate facilities and energy production equipment, it is appro- 15 priate for state agencies to provide financial assistance in the form of 16 low-interest or zero-interest loans, grants, performance contracts and 17 other appropriate financing mechanisms. In addition, the legislature 18 also finds that current technologies exist which could provide the dual 19 purpose of reducing energy costs for such facilities, and thus also 20 provide benefits to local taxpayers for lower public facilities costs. 21 In addition, to ensure that such facilities do not create additional 22 cost burdens for local taxpayers, and in consideration of the public EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD00679-01-1 A. 5914 2 1 safety and security to be provided to the localities, such facilities 2 shall be exempt from any statutory or regulatory requirements for utili- 3 ty standby rates, unreasonable interconnection charges, or exit fees or 4 other similar rates or requirements. 5 S 2. The energy law is amended by adding a new article 22 to read as 6 follows: 7 ARTICLE 22 8 REFUGE FACILITIES 9 SECTION 22-101. DEFINITIONS. 10 22-102. REFUGE FACILITIES, CREATION. 11 22-103. UTILITY RATE TREATMENT. 12 22-104. PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS. 13 S 22-101. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE: 14 1. "REFUGE FACILITY" SHALL MEAN A FACILITY OWNED AND OPERATED BY A 15 MUNICIPALITY, AS DEFINED IN SECTION NINE HUNDRED EIGHTY OF THE GENERAL 16 MUNICIPAL LAW, OR A SCHOOL DISTRICT, AS PURSUANT TO TITLE TWO OF THE 17 EDUCATION LAW, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SCHOOL BUILDINGS, MUNICIPAL 18 OFFICE BUILDINGS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, OR PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES OR 19 COMMUNITY COLLEGES, AS DEFINED PURSUANT TO THE EDUCATION LAW, OR OTHER 20 APPROPRIATE STRUCTURE OR FACILITY THAT IS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING SHELTER 21 FOR A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE LOCAL POPULATION DURING TIMES OF 22 MAN-MADE OR NATURAL DISASTER. 23 2. "COGENERATION TECHNOLOGY" SHALL MEAN ANY ONE OF THE SEVERAL TECH- 24 NOLOGIES THAT CAN BE USED FOR COMBINED HEAT AND POWER APPLICATIONS, AND 25 WHICH CONSIST OF APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGIES WHEREIN WASTE HEAT FROM 26 ON-SITE ELECTRIC GENERATION PROCESS IS RECOVERED TO PROVIDE STEAM OR HOT 27 WATER TO MEET ON-SITE NEEDS, SUCH AS HEATING AND/OR AIR CONDITIONING. 28 FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, COGENERATION TECHNOLOGIES MUST ATTAIN 29 OVERALL SYSTEM EFFICIENCY OF SIXTY PERCENT, CONSIDERING BOTH THERMAL AND 30 ELECTRICAL PROCESSES TOGETHER. 31 3. "FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE" SHALL MEAN GRANTS, LOANS, INTEREST SUBSI- 32 DIES, LOAN GUARANTEES AND OTHER APPROPRIATE FUNDING MECHANISMS, INCLUD- 33 ING PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING, CONSIDERING THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE 34 PROJECT. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GRANTS, ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 35 PROVIDED ACCORDING TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE REPAID TO THE ISSUING 36 AUTHORITY, OVER A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED TEN YEARS, WITH SAVINGS IN ENERGY 37 COSTS AND RELATED COSTS WHICH ACCRUE TO THE FACILITY OWNER AS A RESULT 38 OF INSTALLING AND OPERATING SUCH COGENERATION EQUIPMENT. 39 S 22-102. REFUGE FACILITIES, CREATION. 1. FOR PURPOSES OF IMPLEMENTING 40 THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE, EVERY COUNTY, EXCEPT THOSE CONTAINED 41 WITHIN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, AND THE CITY OF NEW YORK SHALL INITIATE AND 42 IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY AND CREATE FACILITIES WHICH CAN BE 43 UTILIZED AS REFUGE FACILITIES. SUCH REFUGE FACILITIES SHALL BE IDENTI- 44 FIED AND INCLUDED IN ANY AND ALL LOCAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLANS TO BE 45 COMPLETED AND IMPLEMENTED ACCORDING TO SECTION TWENTY-THREE OF THE EXEC- 46 UTIVE LAW. COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS AND THE CITY OF NEW 47 YORK EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIAL SHALL COOPERATE AND COORDINATE 48 EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY AND ESTABLISH REFUGE FACILITIES WITH THE DIRECTOR OF 49 THE STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE AND THE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS 50 COMMISSION. TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE AND FEASIBLE, COUNTY EMERGENCY 51 MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS AND THE CITY OF NEW YORK EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFI- 52 CIAL SHALL INTEGRATE ANY SUCH ACTIVITIES WITH THOSE OF ANY AND ALL STATE 53 DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLANS AS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION TWENTY-TWO 54 OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW. 55 2. COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS, WORKING IN COORDINATION 56 WITH APPROPRIATE STATE, CITY, TOWN AND VILLAGE OFFICIALS, SHALL IDENTIFY A. 5914 3 1 AN APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF REFUGE FACILITIES TO BE LOCATED WITHIN THE 2 COUNTY, WITH RESPECT TO THE POPULATION AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS NECES- 3 SARY TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE RELIEF IN TIMES OF AN EMERGENCY. THE CITY OF 4 NEW YORK EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIAL SHALL WORK IN COORDINATION WITH 5 ALL APPROPRIATE STATE OFFICIALS TO IDENTIFY AN APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF 6 REFUGE FACILITIES TO BE LOCATED WITHIN THAT CITY, WITH RESPECT TO THE 7 POPULATION AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE RELIEF 8 IN TIMES OF AN EMERGENCY. 9 3. EACH REFUGE FACILITY SHALL BE REGISTERED WITH THE COUNTY EMERGENCY 10 MANAGEMENT OFFICE IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH SUCH FACILITY IS SITUATED, 11 EXCEPT IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK WHEREIN THE CITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 12 OFFICE SHALL MAINTAIN SUCH REGISTRATION. THE REGISTRIES SHALL BE UPDATED 13 ANNUALLY. SUCH REGISTRIES SHALL ALSO BE PROVIDED TO THE STATE EMERGENCY 14 MANAGEMENT OFFICE. 15 S 22-103. UTILITY RATE TREATMENT. NO ELECTRIC CORPORATION, AS DEFINED 16 BY SUBDIVISION THIRTEEN OF SECTION TWO OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW, SHALL 17 ESTABLISH OR MODIFY ANY TARIFFS WITH RESPECT TO REFUGE FACILITIES THAT 18 INSTALL COGENERATION EQUIPMENT. ANY REFUGE FACILITY THAT IS REGISTERED 19 WITH THE STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE SHALL FURTHER BE EXEMPT FROM 20 PAYMENT OF ANY EXIT FEES OR ANY LOST REVENUES RESULTING FROM THE INSTAL- 21 LATION AND OPERATION OF COGENERATION EQUIPMENT AT THE REFUGE FACILITY. 22 TO THE EXTENT THAT THE REFUGE FACILITY REQUIRES INTERCONNECTION WITH THE 23 LOCAL ELECTRIC UTILITY SYSTEM, NO ELECTRIC CORPORATION SHALL ESTABLISH 24 OR MODIFY ANY TARIFF TO ESTABLISH A STANDBY RATE THAT DOES NOT TAKE INTO 25 ACCOUNT THE ACTUAL COSTS AND BENEFITS OF THE DISTRIBUTED GENERATION 26 RESOURCE. SUCH STANDBY RATE SHALL CONSIDER THE RELIABILITY OF THE 27 ON-SITE GENERATION, AS DETERMINED BY THE FREQUENCY AND DURATION OF 28 OUTAGES, SO THAT CUSTOMERS WITH MORE RELIABLE ON-SITE GENERATION AND 29 THOSE THAT REDUCE PEAK DEMAND PAY A LOWER COST-BASED RATE. TO THE EXTENT 30 THE INSTALLATION OF ANY COGENERATION EQUIPMENT RESULTS IN INTERCON- 31 NECTION FEES, AN ELECTRIC CORPORATION SHALL ONLY COLLECT INTERCONNECTION 32 FEES THAT ARE REASONABLE. 33 S 22-104. PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS. FOR PURPOSES OF IMPLEMENTING THIS 34 ARTICLE, THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE NINE OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL BE APPLI- 35 CABLE FOR THOSE PROJECTS FOR WHICH PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING IS A PREFERA- 36 BLE METHOD FOR THE FINANCING, INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF COGENERATION 37 TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT. 38 S 3. Section 1005 of the public authorities law is amended by adding a 39 new subdivision 17 to read as follows: 40 17. TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE INSTALLATION OF COGENERA- 41 TION TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING AND MAINTAINING REFUGE 42 FACILITIES PURSUANT TO ARTICLE TWENTY-TWO OF THE ENERGY LAW. 43 A. THE AUTHORITY MAY MAKE AVAILABLE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE; PROVIDED 44 THAT NO COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SHALL BE CHARGED 45 TO THE AUTHORITY'S CUSTOMERS. SUCH FUNDS SHALL BE USED FOR THE DEVELOP- 46 MENT OF REFUGE FACILITIES AS IDENTIFIED AMONG THE AUTHORITY'S CUSTOMERS. 47 B. THE AUTHORITY MAY SOLICIT APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BY 48 PUBLIC NOTICE. SUCH NOTICE SHALL BE IN THE FORM OF ADVERTISEMENTS, PRESS 49 RELEASES, AND BY SUCH OTHER MEANS AS THE AUTHORITY FINDS APPROPRIATE. 50 C. THE AUTHORITY MAY PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BY ENTERING INTO A 51 CONTRACT WITH A CONTRACTOR FOR THE COGENERATION SERVICES. THE AUTHORITY 52 SHALL EVALUATE APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BASED UPON THE 53 AMOUNT OF POWER SAVED AS A RESULT OF THE INSTALLATION OF THE COGENERA- 54 TION EQUIPMENT AND THE SAVINGS IN ENERGY COSTS RELATIVE TO THE AMOUNT OF 55 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE REQUIRED. A. 5914 4 1 S 4. Sections 1020-hh, 1020-ii and 1020-jj of the public authorities 2 law, as renumbered by chapter 433 of the laws of 2009, are renumbered 3 sections 1020-ii, 1020-jj and 1020-kk and a new section 1020-hh is added 4 to read as follows: 5 S 1020-HH. REFUGE FACILITIES; COMPLIANCE. 1. THE AUTHORITY MAY ASSIST 6 WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REFUGE FACILITIES, AS STATED IN ARTICLE 7 TWENTY-TWO OF THE ENERGY LAW, WITHIN THE SERVICE TERRITORY. 8 2. THE AUTHORITY MAY MAKE AVAILABLE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE; PROVIDED 9 THAT NO COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SHALL BE CHARGED 10 TO THE AUTHORITY'S CUSTOMERS. SUCH FUNDS SHALL BE USED FOR THE DEVELOP- 11 MENT OF REFUGE FACILITIES WITHIN THE AUTHORITY'S SERVICE TERRITORY. 12 3. THE AUTHORITY MAY SOLICIT APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BY 13 PUBLIC NOTICE. SUCH NOTICE SHALL BE IN THE FORM OF ADVERTISEMENT, PRESS 14 RELEASES, AND BY SUCH OTHER MEANS AS THE AUTHORITY FINDS APPROPRIATE. 15 4. THE AUTHORITY MAY PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BY ENTERING INTO A 16 CONTRACT WITH A CONTRACTOR FOR THE COGENERATION SERVICES. THE AUTHORITY 17 SHALL EVALUATE APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BASED UPON THE 18 AMOUNT OF POWER SAVED AS A RESULT OF THE INSTALLATION OF THE COGENERA- 19 TION EQUIPMENT AND THE SAVINGS IN ENERGY COSTS RELATIVE TO THE AMOUNT OF 20 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE REQUIRED. 21 S 5. Section 1854 of the public authorities law is amended by adding a 22 new subdivision 19 to read as follows: 23 19. TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE INSTALLATION OF COGENERA- 24 TION TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING AND MAINTAINING REFUGE 25 FACILITIES PURSUANT TO ARTICLE TWENTY-TWO OF THE ENERGY LAW. THE 26 AUTHORITY MAY SOLICIT APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BY PUBLIC 27 NOTICE, WHICH PUBLIC NOTICE SHALL BE IN THE FORM OF ADVERTISEMENTS, 28 PRESS RELEASES, AND BY SUCH OTHER MEANS AS THE AUTHORITY FINDS APPROPRI- 29 ATE. THE AUTHORITY MAY PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BY ENTERING INTO A 30 CONTRACT WITH A CONTRACTOR FOR THE COGENERATION SERVICES. THE AUTHORITY 31 SHALL EVALUATE APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BASED UPON THE 32 AMOUNT OF POWER SAVED AS A RESULT OF THE INSTALLATION OF THE COGENERA- 33 TION EQUIPMENT AND THE SAVINGS IN ENERGY COSTS RELATIVE TO THE AMOUNT OF 34 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE REQUIRED. WHERE APPROPRIATE, THE AUTHORITY MAY 35 ACCESS FUNDS RECEIVED FROM UTILITY ASSESSMENTS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND 36 OTHER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN ORDER TO PROVIDE GRANTS FOR 37 PROJECTS REQUIRING ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND WHERE PERFORM- 38 ANCE CONTRACTING IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE AUTHORITY MAY MAKE AVAILABLE 39 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PROJECTS IN 40 UTILITY SERVICE TERRITORIES WHEREIN THE RATEPAYERS OF SUCH UTILITIES 41 CONTRIBUTE TO SUCH ASSESSMENT FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RESEARCH AND 42 DEVELOPMENT. 43 S 6. Section 66 of the public service law is amended by adding a new 44 subdivision 29 to read as follows: 45 29. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, NO 46 REFUGE FACILITY THAT IS IDENTIFIED AND IMPLEMENTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH 47 ARTICLE TWENTY-TWO OF THE ENERGY LAW SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ANY TRANSITION 48 COSTS, EXIT FEES, OR ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS, SUCH AS STANDBY RATES, RELATED 49 TO THE DISCONTINUANCE OF SERVICES FROM ITS FORMER SUPPLIER OF RETAIL 50 DISTRIBUTION SERVICE WHEN SUCH REFUGE FACILITY RECEIVES ELECTRIC SERVICE 51 IN WHOLE OR IN PART FROM A SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY ACCORDING TO THE 52 PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE TWENTY-TWO OF THE ENERGY LAW AND GENERATES A 53 SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF ITS OWN POWER AND DISTRIBUTES THAT POWER IN A 54 MANNER WHICH BYPASSES THE RETAIL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OF ITS FORMER 55 SUPPLIER. A. 5914 5 1 S 7. The New York state energy research and development authority 2 shall assess the feasibility, costs, and benefits of installing renewa- 3 ble energy technologies, including cogeneration technology on the prem- 4 ises of refuge facilities as established under article 22 of the energy 5 law. The authority shall report back to the legislature with its find- 6 ings within 6 months of the effective date of this act. 7 S 8. This act shall take effect immediately.