New York Pursues the hope of a Clean Energy Economy

Governor David A. Paterson announced today that he has signed into law three bills that were put forth by his Administration to advance the development of the clean energy economy. The bills expand the consumer appliances for which the Department of State has the authority to set energy efficiency standards; allow natural gas utilities to implement on-bill recovery programs for their customers that make energy efficiency investments; and expand the definition of alternate energy production facilities to include kinetic energy storage devices to facilitate their siting and support of utility-scale renewable energy projects.

“Advancement of the clean energy economy can help meet a number of my objectives, from creating new industries and jobs for New Yorkers, to improving energy efficiency and enhancing the energy security of the State,” Governor Paterson said. “Passage of these three bills represents another step forward in development of the new economy. I commend the Legislature for working with me on these joint goals and passing these important pieces of clean energy legislation.”

The appliance standards Governor’s Program Bill No. 238 (S.8070 (Squadron) / A.10881 (Rosenthal)) authorizes the Secretary of State, in consultation with the President of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), to establish energy efficiency performance standards for portable light fixtures, bottle-type water dispensers, commercial hot food holding cabinets, portable electric spas and residential pool pumps. The impact of setting these energy standards will be a reduction in electricity consumption and furtherance of progress towards the State’s ’45 by 15′ clean energy goal to have 45 percent of the State’s electricity needs met with clean energy by 2015. Additionally, reductions in electricity consumption, such as improving the energy efficiency of consumer products, has been shown to put downward pressure on wholesale electricity rates and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

The gas on-bill recovery Department of Public Service (DPS) departmental bill (S.3712 (Parker)/A.7736 (John)) will help encourage consumers to invest in energy efficiency measures by making it easy for consumers to repay loans associated with the installation of such measures. This bill will give gas utility companies the authorization to provide easy loan repayment by allowing their customers to repay the efficiency loan through their utility bill.

The energy storage DPS departmental bill (S.7145 (Aubertine)/A.10216 (Cahill)) adds kinetic energy storage devices (flywheels and compressed air storage) to the alternate energy production facility definition, thereby exempting those projects of less than 80 megawatts capacity from Public Service Commission jurisdiction. This will help to reduce the regulatory burden on these technologies which can allow for the utilization of renewable energy produced during off-peak times and can improve the efficiency of the State’s electric system.

The following statements were provided in support of the Governor’s clean energy agenda:

Senator Darrel Aubertine said: “As we continue working toward energy independence to ensure our power needs are met here in New York State long term, new technologies for energy storage must have the opportunity to grow. By reducing regulations on these growing industries such as flywheel and compressed air, we are giving our State the opportunity to create new jobs in a new economy and meet our needs. I want to thank the Governor for recognizing the value of this legislation and signing it into law.”

Senator Kevin Parker said: “This legislation extends a right to natural gas customers they do not have under existing law, creating parity with electric service customers and encouraging energy efficiency investments. I am pleased the Governor has signed these clean energy bills into law, so that New York can continue to grow its green energy sector and reduce its carbon footprint, and create the Green Collar jobs that are New York’s future.”

Senator Daniel Squadron said: “Increasing the energy efficiency of consumer products is an easy and effective way to cut families’ electricity bills and reduce greenhouse gases. The bill I sponsored, which sets energy efficiency standards for electricity-guzzling appliances, is a big win for wallets and the environment, and I thank Governor Paterson for signing it into law.”

Assemblyman Kevin Cahill said: “Our future as a world economic leader, as the Empire State, depends on our embracing the development of a new energy economy. In New York, as we have so many times in the past, we have the ability to drive those innovations and create that economy right here at home. These bills represent a continuation of the great progress the Legislature, in partnership with Governor Paterson, has made in advancing policies that will lead our State to energy independence.”

Assemblywoman Linda B. Rosenthal said: “In our efforts to achieve maximum energy efficiency and savings, we must be relentless in finding new opportunities to reduce consumption. I am proud to have passed legislation establishing new standards for commercial and consumer electronic devices and look forward to the savings New Yorkers will reap as a result of this bill. Some of these devices may be small, but our State’s outsized influence on the United States market will drive nationwide trends.”

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