NY State Senate Bill 2025-S1536

Senate Bill S1536

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Directs the New York state energy research and development authority to conduct a study of the technical and economic feasibility and ratepayer impact of a zero emission electrical system

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Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Energy And Telecommunications Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 10, 2025	referred to energy and telecommunications

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2025-S1536 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A4225
Current Committee:: Senate Energy And Telecommunications
Law Section:: Public Authorities Law
Laws Affected:: Add §1885, Pub Auth L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S2352
2021-2022: S3036
2023-2024: S2474, A4999

2025-S1536 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Directs the New York state energy research and development authority to conduct a study of the technical and economic feasibility and ratepayer impact of a zero-emission electrical system and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

2025-S1536 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S1536

SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to directing the
New York state energy research and development authority to conduct a
study of the technical and economic feasibility and ratepayer impact of
a zero-emission electrical system and a reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill would include a supplemental study to be conducted as part of
the New York State Energy Plan to determine the technical and economic
feasibility of meeting a 100 percent renewable energy goal and a 100
percent greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goal, along with associ-
ated impacts to electric system reliability.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

This bill would add a requirement for a supplemental study to be

conducted as part of the New York State Energy Plan. The study would
determine the technical and economic feasibility of meeting the follow-
ing goals:

- Having a statewide electrical demand system be 0 emissions by 2040 and
100 percent of the electricity consumed in New York State be generated
by renewable energy resources by 2030, or, in the alternative, by 2050.

- Reducing GHG emissions by 85 percent below the levels in the year 1990
by 2050, with an incremental target of a 40 percent reduction from 1990
levels by 2030.

The study would assess factors such as the timing, costs, economic, and
health impacts, and feasibility associated with pathways to meet these
goals. The evaluation of costs would consider parameters such as the
total potential costs and potential economic and non-economic benefits
of meeting these goals, in addition to the technical and cost impact on
maintaining electric system reliability, including but not limited to,
the need for and type of backup power supplies and of energy storage
systems to maintain electric system reliability. The study also would
assess the short-term and long-term actions to feasibly meet the goals
across all economic sectors, including industry, transportation, agri-
culture, building construction and energy production, and the estimated
timelines for considering and implementing such actions.

The New York State Energy Planning Board would prepare a report on such
study's findings and would transmit the report and the study to the
Governor, the Legislative Leaders, and the chairs of the Energy Commit-
tees in the New York State Assembly and the Senate.  The Long Island
Power Authority and the New York Power Authority (NYPA)are authorized to
make a voluntary contribution toward the study.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The Clean Energy Standard (CES) already requires that 50 percent of all
electricity used in the State be generated from renewable energy
resources by 2030. The New York State Energy Research and Development
Authority (NYSERDA) and NYPA already have awarded Requests for
Proposals(RFP) to begin to implement the CES.

Yet, some have called for a requirement that the State accelerate its
current CES goal to have 100 percent of the electricity consumed in New
York State to be generated by renewable energy resources by 2030, or, in
the alternative, by 2050. The electric system reliability impacts of
meeting a goal of a 100 percent renewable energy system need to be
determined, along with an evaluation of the technical and economic
feasibility of meeting such a goal.

In his 2017 State of the State Address Book, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
directed the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
(DEC) and NYSERDA "to undertake a comprehensive study to determine the
timing, costs, and feasibility associated with pathways to reach 100
percent renewables statewide. This landmark study will explore various
renewable technology and energy efficiency deployment scenarios, emis-
sions reductions pathways, and economic considerations for New York
businesses, residents, and consumers. DEC and NYSERDA will engage
academic partners to draw upon existing clean energy research and seek
input from other key stakeholders. The study will build upon relevant
expertise already at the State's disposal, including analyses completed
for the Clean Energy Standard, the New York State Greenhouse Gas inven-
tory and Pathways Analysis, and other renewable energy and energy effi-
ciency potential studies conducted by NYSERDA."  This study that was
called for by the Governor in 2017 still is pending, and this legis-
lation is consistent with the intent of that study.

Similarly, some have called for a goal of reducing GHG emissions by 100
percent below the levels in the year 1990 by 2050, with an incremental
target of a 50 percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2030. This 100
percent emissions reduction goal would be more aggressive than the one
established by Executive Order 24 of 2009, which requires that GHG emis-
sions be reduced by 80 percent across the economy from 1990 levels by
2050. Also, this 50 percent incremental emissions reduction goal is more
aggressive than the goal established by the most recent State Energy
Plan, which has established a goal to reduce GHG emissions statewide by
40 percent from 1990 levels by 2030. The technical and economic feasi-
bility of these GHG emission reduction goals needs to be determined, and
their corresponding impact on electric system reliability needs to be
evaluated, especially in combination with the 100 percent renewable
energy goal discussed above. Executive Order 24 required the DEC to
develop a Climate Action Plan, and, on November 9, 2010, the DEC issued
a draft Climate Action Plan Interim Report, which was developed through
an extensive stakeholder process, for how to reduce emissions from each
sector of the State's economy; however, this draft report was not final-
ized. This bill would ensure that the draft report would be updated and
completed.

The State Energy Planning process is required to be conducted every four
years. This legislation would require a comprehensive study to be
conducted and updated every four years on the technical and economic
feasibility of meeting the goals discussed above, in addition to a
determination of their associated impact on electric system reliability.

The planning process includes a public hearing and comment process, and
the legislation would require specific input from affected and inter-
ested stakeholders. The study produced in conjunction with the State
Energy Plan would determine whether and how these goals can be met in a
responsible and cost-effective manner.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2023/24: S2474B-REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE

2021/22: S3036 - REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE

2019/20 S2352 - REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S1536 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1536
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 10, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  PARKER,  COMRIE, FERNANDEZ, HOYLMAN-SIGAL -- read
   twice and ordered printed, and when printed to  be  committed  to  the
   Committee on Energy and Telecommunications
 
 AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to directing the
   New  York state energy research and development authority to conduct a
   study of the technical and economic feasibility and  ratepayer  impact
   of a zero-emission electrical system and a reduction in greenhouse gas
   emissions
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The public authorities law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 section 1885 to read as follows:
   §  1885.  SUPPLEMENTAL STUDY ON THE TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY
 OF A ONE HUNDRED PERCENT RENEWABLE ENERGY  SYSTEM  AND  A  REDUCTION  IN
 GREENHOUSE  GAS  EMISSIONS.  1. ON OR BEFORE JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND
 TWENTY-SEVEN, AND EVERY FOUR YEARS THEREAFTER, THE AUTHORITY, IN CONSUL-
 TATION AND COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC  SERVICE  AND  THE
 DEPARTMENT  OF  ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, AND THE FEDERALLY DESIGNATED
 ELECTRIC BULK SYSTEM OPERATOR, SHALL PUBLISH AND UPDATE A  COMPREHENSIVE
 STUDY  TO DETERMINE THE TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY AND RATEPAYER
 IMPACT OF MEETING THE FOLLOWING GOALS:
   (A) HAVING THE STATEWIDE ELECTRICAL DEMAND SYSTEM BE ZERO-EMISSIONS BY
 THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND FORTY  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  SIXTY-SIX-P  OF  THE
 PUBLIC  SERVICE  LAW AND ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE ELECTRICITY CONSUMED
 IN THE STATE GENERATED BY RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES  BY  THE  YEAR  TWO
 THOUSAND  THIRTY-FOUR,  AND, ALTERNATIVELY, THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND FIFTY-
 FOUR.
   (B) REDUCING STATEWIDE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS  BY  A  PERCENTAGE  OF
 NINETEEN  HUNDRED NINETY EMISSIONS FROM GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION SOURCES,
 PURSUANT TO CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SIX OF THE LAWS OF  TWO  THOUSAND  NINE-
 TEEN, AS FOLLOWS:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04067-01-5

 S. 1536                             2
 
   (I)  BY  TWO THOUSAND THIRTY: SIXTY PERCENT OF NINETEEN HUNDRED NINETY
 EMISSIONS; AND
   (II) BY TWO THOUSAND FIFTY: FIFTEEN PERCENT OF NINETEEN HUNDRED NINETY
 EMISSIONS.
   2.  SUCH  STUDY  SHALL INCLUDE, AT A MINIMUM, AN ASSESSMENT OF EACH OF
 THE FOLLOWING:
   (A) THE TIMING, COSTS, ECONOMIC IMPACTS, RATEPAYER IMPACTS AND  FEASI-
 BILITY  ASSOCIATED  WITH  PATHWAYS  TO  MEET THESE GOALS PURSUANT TO THE
 FINAL SCOPING PLAN ADOPTED BY THE NEW YORK STATE CLIMATE ACTION  COUNCIL
 PURSUANT  TO  CHAPTER  ONE HUNDRED SIX OF THE LAWS OF TWO THOUSAND NINE-
 TEEN.  IN TERMS OF THE EVALUATION OF COSTS, THE STUDY SHALL:
   (I) EVALUATE, USING THE BEST AVAILABLE ECONOMIC MODELS, EMISSION ESTI-
 MATION TECHNIQUES AND OTHER  SCIENTIFIC  METHODS,  THE  TOTAL  POTENTIAL
 COSTS  AND POTENTIAL ECONOMIC AND NON-ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF MEETING THESE
 GOALS; AND
   (II) EVALUATE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF MEETING THE GOALS ON THE  STATE'S
 BUSINESSES, JOBS, RATEPAYERS AND RESIDENTS ASSUMING:
   (A)  THE  RENEWABLE AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS GOALS OF OTHER STATES
 AND REGIONS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE AT LEAST FIFTY PERCENT  LOWER  THAN
 NEW YORK STATE'S GOALS;
   (B)  THE  RENEWABLE AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS GOALS OF OTHER STATES
 AND REGIONS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE AS THOSE IN PLACE AS OF THE DATE OF
 THE STUDY;
   (C) THE EXISTENCE OF TECHNOLOGY IN PLACE AS OF THE DATE OF THE STUDY.
   (B) THE TECHNICAL AND COST IMPACT ON MAINTAINING ELECTRIC SYSTEM RELI-
 ABILITY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE NEED FOR AND TYPE OF  BACK-UP
 POWER  SUPPLIES  AND  OF  ENERGY  STORAGE  SYSTEMS  AND OF ZERO-EMISSION
 DISPATCHABLE RESOURCES TO MAINTAIN ELECTRIC SYSTEM RELIABILITY.
   (C) THE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM ACTIONS TO FEASIBLY  MEET  THE  GOALS
 ACROSS  ALL  ECONOMIC SECTORS, INCLUDING INDUSTRY, TRANSPORTATION, AGRI-
 CULTURE, BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND ENERGY PRODUCTION, INCLUDING:
   (I) AN ANALYSIS  OF  THE  ANTICIPATED  EMISSION  REDUCTIONS,  AND  THE
 ECONOMIC  IMPLICATIONS AND RATEPAYER IMPACT THEREOF, AS A RESULT OF EACH
 ACTION.
   (II) IDENTIFICATION OF THE ANTICIPATED LIFE-CYCLE IMPLICATIONS, CONSE-
 QUENCES, BENEFITS AND  COSTS  OF  IMPLEMENTING  EACH  ACTION,  INCLUDING
 IMPLICATIONS,  CONSEQUENCES, BENEFITS AND COSTS TO NEW YORK STATE, LOCAL
 GOVERNMENTS, BUSINESSES, RATEPAYERS AND RESIDENTS FROM IMPLEMENTATION OF
 EACH ACTION.
   (III) DETAILED ANALYSIS TO ESTIMATE THE ANNUAL AND TOTAL  COST  IMPACT
 ON  ELECTRIC  AND  NATURAL GAS BILLS FOR ALL CUSTOMER SECTORS ACROSS THE
 STATE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, RESIDENTIAL, SMALL AND LARGE BUSI-
 NESS CUSTOMERS, ASSOCIATED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ADOPTED  SCOP-
 ING PLAN, ALONG WITH A RANGE OF COSTS, BASED UPON THE SELECTION OF VARI-
 OUS  POTENTIAL  DECARBONIZATION  PATHWAYS,  TO  MINIMIZE  COSTS  AND  TO
 MAXIMIZE THE TOTAL BENEFITS TO NEW YORK STATE.
   (IV) SPECIFIC COST STUDY SCENARIOS THAT SHOW RESIDENTIAL,  COMMERCIAL,
 INDUSTRIAL,  AND  INSTITUTIONAL  ENERGY  CONSUMERS',  ALONG  WITH  LOCAL
 GOVERNMENTS,  INCREASED COSTS, NOT ONLY ON THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM, BUT ALSO
 ON THE GAS SYSTEM.
   (A) THE ANALYSIS SHALL  SPECIFY  CONSUMERS'  COSTS  OF  INSTALLING  OR
 ACCESSING  RENEWABLE  ENERGY AND ENERGY STORAGE, REPLACING THEIR HEATING
 SYSTEMS, UPGRADING THEIR ELECTRIC SERVICE, PURCHASING ELECTRIC CARS, AND
 CHARGING THEM.
   (B) THE ANALYSIS SHALL DETAIL HOW CONSUMERS WILL PAY FOR  THESE  MEAS-
 URES,  ASSESS WHETHER THE ADOPTED SCOPING PLAN INCLUDES SUFFICIENT MEAS-
 S. 1536                             3
 
 URES TO AVOID OR REDUCE UPFRONT COSTS ON CONSUMERS, AND RECOMMEND  ADDI-
 TIONAL AFFORDABILITY MEASURES.
   (D) ESTIMATED TIMELINES FOR CONSIDERING AND IMPLEMENTING SUCH ACTIONS.
   (E) EXPLORATION OF VARIOUS RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGY, ENERGY STORAGE, ZERO-
 EMISSION DISPATCHABLE RESOURCES AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY DEPLOYMENT SCENAR-
 IOS.
   (F) A REQUIREMENT FOR ANY NEW VEHICLES SOLD IN THE STATE TO BE POWERED
 BY  ELECTRICITY  GENERATED BY RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES OR OTHERWISE TO
 BE FREE OF EMISSIONS.
   (G) PROPOSALS FOR NEW STRUCTURES CONSTRUCTED IN THE STATE  TO  BE  NET
 ZERO-EMISSION STRUCTURES.
   (H) TRANSITION TO RENEWABLE HEATING AND COOLING PROVIDED BY HEAT PUMPS
 POWERED  BY  RENEWABLE  ENERGY RESOURCES OR OTHER MEANS RESULTING IN NET
 ZERO EMISSIONS.
   (I) THE ECONOMIC AND  SOCIAL  BENEFITS  OF  GREENHOUSE  GAS  EMISSIONS
 REDUCTIONS,  TAKING  INTO ACCOUNT THE FEDERAL SOCIAL COST OF CARBON, ANY
 OTHER TOOLS THAT THE AUTHORITY DEEMS USEFUL AND PERTINENT FOR THIS ANAL-
 YSIS, AND ANY ENVIRONMENTAL,  ECONOMIC  AND  PUBLIC  HEALTH  CO-BENEFITS
 (SUCH AS THE REDUCTION OF CO-POLLUTANTS AND THE DIVERSIFICATION OF ENER-
 GY SOURCES), AND AVOIDING, LOWERING, MINIMIZING, OFFSETTING, OR MITIGAT-
 ING,  TO  THE  MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTICABLE USING VERIFIABLE MEASURES, ANY
 SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OF THE  EXISTING  DISPROPORTIONATE POLLUTION BURDEN
 ON A DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY, PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION THREE  OF  SECTION
 SEVEN  OF  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SIX OF THE LAWS OF TWO THOUSAND NINETEEN,
 PROVIDED THAT THE TERM  "POLLUTION"  SHALL  HAVE  THE  SAME  MEANING  AS
 DEFINED  IN  SUBDIVISION NINETEEN OF SECTION 1-0303 OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
 CONSERVATION LAW.
   3. SUCH STUDY SHALL BUILD  UPON  RELEVANT  EXPERTISE  ALREADY  AT  THE
 AUTHORITY'S DISPOSAL.
   4.  THE  AUTHORITY  MAY CONTRACT WITH AN INDEPENDENT AND COMPETITIVELY
 SELECTED CONTRACTOR TO UNDERTAKE SUCH STUDY.
   5. THE AUTHORITY, AND ANY CONTRACTORS IT MAY RETAIN FOR SUCH PURPOSES,
 SHALL CONSULT WITH ENTITIES THAT HAVE RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE TO  ASSIST
 IN  SUCH  STUDY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ACADEMIC PARTNERS, ELEC-
 TRIC CORPORATIONS, GAS CORPORATIONS, ELECTRICITY  GENERATING  COMPANIES,
 TRADE  ORGANIZATIONS,  ENVIRONMENTAL  JUSTICE  GROUPS,  LABOR UNIONS AND
 OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.
   6. THE AUTHORITY SHALL PREPARE A REPORT ON SUCH STUDY'S FINDINGS.  THE
 AUTHORITY SHALL TRANSMIT SUCH REPORT ALONG WITH THE STUDY TO THE  GOVER-
 NOR, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE,
 THE  CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY ENERGY COMMITTEE, AND THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE
 ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE NO LATER THAN THIRTY DAYS  AFTER
 THE STUDY'S COMPLETION.
   7.  THE  LONG  ISLAND  POWER  AUTHORITY AND THE POWER AUTHORITY OF THE
 STATE OF NEW YORK ARE AUTHORIZED, AS DEEMED FEASIBLE  AND  ADVISABLE  BY
 THEIR  RESPECTIVE  BOARDS,  TO  MAKE A VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TOWARD THE
 STUDY.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S1536

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Sponsored By

Kevin S. Parker