S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  1110

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             January 8, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. MAGEE -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Economic Development

AN ACT to amend the New York state urban development corporation act, in
  relation to creating the dairy farm improved energy efficiency program

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  Legislative  findings.   The legislature hereby finds and
declares that due to their remote locations at the end of  the  electric
grid  infrastructure,  farms  are  more difficult to service by electric
utilities.  Strengthening the energy systems  of  individual  farms  and
developing  micro-grids  in  remote areas will enhance the overall reli-
ability of the electric system.   The  legislature  further  finds  that
assisting  dairy  farms  with  high efficiency lighting, high efficiency
pumping and cooling equipment, and other energy management systems, will
result in significant energy savings and increased  milk  yields.    The
legislature  hereby  declares that providing low cost tools and programs
to farmers will help farm operations become more  efficient  and  reduce
their cost of doing business.  Advancing new technologies will also help
to  accelerate  the  development  of  the energy services industry, thus
providing new and expanded job opportunities for New Yorkers.
  Therefore, the legislature seeks to provide funds to encourage  energy
efficient dairy farms through grants and low interest loans for approved
projects to stimulate the New York state dairy industry.
  S  2.  Section  1 of chapter 174 of the laws of 1968, constituting the
New York state urban development corporation act, is amended by adding a
new section 16-x to read as follows:
  S 16-X. DAIRY FARM IMPROVED ENERGY EFFICIENCY  PROGRAM.    1.    DEFI-
NITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION:
  (A) "AUTHORITY" SHALL MEAN THE NEW YORK STATE ENERGY RESEARCH DEVELOP-
MENT AUTHORITY.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD01310-01-5

              

A. 1110                             2

  (B)  "LOAN  FUND"  SHALL REFER TO THE DAIRY FARM IMPROVED ENERGY EFFI-
CIENCY LOAN FUND ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
  2.  (A)  THE  CORPORATION, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE AUTHORITY, SHALL
ESTABLISH A DAIRY FARM IMPROVED ENERGY EFFICIENCY LOAN FUND  TO  PROVIDE
GRANTS  AND  LOW  INTEREST  LOANS  TO  DAIRY FARMS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY
PROJECTS AND ADVANCED ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES.
  (B) IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN  THIS  LOAN  PROGRAM,  A
DAIRY  FARM  MUST  HAVE AN ENERGY AUDIT PROVIDED THROUGH THE AUTHORITY'S
ENERGY AUDIT PROGRAM THAT HELPS CUSTOMERS MAKE INFORMED ELECTRICAL ENER-
GY DECISIONS AND IMPLEMENT ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGIES.
  3. (A) THE CORPORATION SHALL, WITHIN AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS, PROVIDE
FINANCIAL, TECHNICAL OR OTHER ASSISTANCE FROM THE LOAN FUND TO  ELIGIBLE
DAIRY FARMS.
  (B)  THE  CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE GRANTS AND LOW INTEREST
LOANS FROM THE LOAN FUND FOR ELIGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS TO DAIRY FARMS.    TO
BE  ELIGIBLE  FOR  SUCH GRANTS AND LOANS, A DAIRY FARM SHALL IDENTIFY AN
ELIGIBLE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AND PROVIDE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION.
  (C) GRANTS OR LOANS PROVIDED BY THE  CORPORATION  MAY  BE  UP  TO  ONE
HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
  4.  ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS ELIGIBLE FOR GRANTS OR LOW INTEREST
LOANS THROUGH THE LOAN FUND SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
  (A) PRE-QUALIFIED MEASURES THAT ARE PROVEN COST EFFECTIVE  INVESTMENTS
WHICH REDUCE ENERGY USE;
  (B)  CUSTOM  MEASURES  THAT  PAY  FOR  THEMSELVES IN TEN YEARS THROUGH
REDUCED ENERGY USE;
  (C) PROCESS IMPROVEMENT MEASURES THAT REDUCE MANUFACTURING ENERGY  USE
ON A COST-PER-UNIT BASIS; AND
  (D) RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES THAT USE THE SUN, WIND, ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
OF  ANIMAL  WASTES OR OTHER APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGIES TO GENERATE HEAT OR
POWER.
  5. APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE  PURSUANT  TO  THIS  SECTION  SHALL  BE
REVIEWED  AND  EVALUATED  BY  THE  CORPORATION  IN  COOPERATION WITH THE
AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND CRITERIA SET FORTH IN
THE RULES AND REGULATIONS PROMULGATED BY THE CORPORATION.
  6. THE CORPORATION AND THE AUTHORITY SHALL SUBMIT  AN  ANNUAL  WRITTEN
REPORT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE
SENATE  IDENTIFYING  THE NUMBER OF DAIRY FARMS ASSISTED THROUGH THE LOAN
FUND PROGRAM, AND THE TYPES OF IMPROVEMENTS IMPLEMENTED AND ENERGY  COST
SAVINGS  AND  ANY OTHER BENEFITS REALIZED BY THE DAIRY FARMS ASSISTED BY
THIS PROGRAM.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.