BILL NUMBER: S1608

SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public service law, in relation to approval of elec-
tric transmission line facilities

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose to this bill is to require the ,ablic Service Commission
(PSC) , to consult the most recent State Energy. Plan (SEP) before issu-
ing a certificate of environmental compatibility and public need
("certificate") for an electric transmission line.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

This bill amends paragraph (d) of subsection 1..) of section 126 of the
public service law.

 
              

JUSTIFICATION:

This bill requires that in an Article VII proceeding on an electric
transmission line, the PSC must determine whether or not the proposed
facility, if built, would correspond with the most recent energy plan,
while considering the prospect of additional environmental impacts that
may be caused by increased electrical generation as a result of ouch
facility was improved. The legislation is intended..  to preent the
approval of projects which mav directly result in increased electrical
generation produced from dirty sources, including coal that would impact
the state's environment.

In September 2010, the PSC granted a certificate for the construction of
the Hudson Transmission Project. The eight -mile underaround trans-
mission cable is intended to connect the New York Power Authority's
(NYPA' governmental customers to the PJ:,:  Interconnection, the
13-state wholesale electrical market that serves, New Jersey, Pennsylva-
nia, Delaware and the District of Columbia. The PSC approved the certif-
icate despite testimony from various participants who argued that the
facility was unnecessary - due to existing electrical capacity in the
New York IndePendent System Cperator (NYISO) wholesale electrical
market. Additionally, the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) testified that PTE. would result in additional coal-
fired in PJK.  Nearly half of PJ10, is produced in from coal fire gener-
ator, many.  of which are located in Pennsylvania, a state upwind of New
York. The DEC testified that only 13 percent of NYISO power was gener-
ated from coal.

The 2009 State Energy Plan included energy and transportation strategies
that would reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, including the need to
increase the amunt energy produced by cleaner burning and renewable
resources. The PSC's decision regarding HTP appears to he contradict
policies one orated in the Energy Plan.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2017/18: S.222 Energy and Telecommunications


2015-16: S.2378A/A.1573A - Amended and Recommitted to Energy and Tele-
communication

2013-14: S.99/A.1244 - Held in Energy and Telecommunications

2011-12: S.5526/A.739 - Passed the Assembly - Held in Energy and Tele-
communications

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediatly.