NY State Senate Bill 2025-S2482

Senate Bill S2482

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Enacts the "go green schools act" to assist school districts in converting to renewable energy systems

download bill text pdf

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 21, 2025	referred to energy and telecommunications

2025-S2482 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Energy And Telecommunications
Law Section:: Public Authorities Law
Laws Affected:: Add Art 8 Title 9-D §§1920 - 1923, amd §1854, Pub Auth L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S8402

2025-S2482 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Enacts the "go green schools act" to assist school districts in converting to renewable energy sources as a primary source of energy; directs NYSERDA to conduct a study and make recommendations for such purpose.

2025-S2482 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S2482

SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing
the "go green schools act" to assist schools in converting to renewable
energy systems as a primary source of energy

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

AN ACT that will enable and incentivize the transition of schools in the
state to become renewable energy operated as a primary source of energy
usage.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

1. Provides Short title of the Bill

2. Article 8 of the public authorities' law is amended by adding a new
title 9-D

3. Section 1854 of the public authorities' law is amended by adding a
new subdivision 9

4. This act shall take effect immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Aiding our school systems in transitioning to lowering the overall
carbon footprint will assist the state in reaching our clean energy
goals soon. By assisting in the transition, it will also reduce the
overall operation cost of the school district and create a more stream-
line planned program to map out the most efficient and succinct method
in which we can move towards the renewable energy conversion.

*Energy Value (LBMP)

*Capacity Value (ICAP)

*Demand Reduction Value (DRV)

This Bill also outlines the redirection of the operation savings back
into the education budget to assist in funding to create a more equita-
ble standard for each school district across the state. With the report-
ing provision the state will be able to track the cost efficiency, ener-
gy value and the improvement in operational cost while moving towards
state and federal guideline for clean energy goals.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2024: PASSED SENATE

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S2482 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2482
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 21, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on  Energy  and  Telecommuni-
   cations
 
 AN  ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing
   the "go green schools act" to assist schools in converting to  renewa-
   ble energy systems as a primary source of energy

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
 the "go green schools act".
   §  2.  Article  8 of the public authorities law is amended by adding a
 new title 9-D to read as follows:
                                 TITLE 9-D
                           GO GREEN SCHOOLS ACT
 
 SECTION 1920. DEFINITIONS.
         1921. MAPPING.
         1922. STUDY.
         1923. REPORTING.
   § 1920. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS TITLE:
   (A) "AUTHORITY" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SET FORTH  IN  SUBDIVI-
 SION TWO OF SECTION EIGHTEEN HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE OF THIS ARTICLE; AND
   (B)  "RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS DEFINED
 IN SECTION SIXTY-SIX-P OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW.
   § 1921. MAPPING. 1.  THE AUTHORITY SHALL DEVELOP  A  MAPPING  TOOL  TO
 PROVIDE  TO  SCHOOLS  TO  ASSIST SUCH SCHOOLS IN CONVERTING TO RENEWABLE
 ENERGY SYSTEMS AS A PRIMARY SOURCE OF ENERGY.
   2. THE MAPPING TOOL SHALL BE POSTED PROMINENTLY AND  PUBLICLY  ON  THE
 AUTHORITY'S WEBSITE AND SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING FEATURES:
   (A)  PROVIDE SUFFICIENT INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE TO SCHOOLS TO COMPRE-
 HENSIVELY EVALUATE WHAT TYPE OR TYPES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY  SYSTEMS  WILL
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06639-01-5

 S. 2482                             2
 
 BE  THE  MOST COST EFFECTIVE OPTION FOR MEETING THE ENERGY NEEDS OF EACH
 SCHOOL IN THE STATE; AND
   (B)  RENEWABLE  ENERGY  SYSTEM  SITING  INFORMATION, SUCH AS: LAND USE
 COVER DATA; DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES; BROWNFIELDS; PREVIOUSLY DISTURBED
 AND DEVELOPED SITES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LARGE ROOFTOPS, PARKING
 LOTS, AND LANDFILLS;  AGRICULTURAL  SOILS  AND  AGRICULTURAL  DISTRICTS;
 FORESTS; WETLANDS, FLOODPLAINS, AND WATERBODIES; HISTORIC, CULTURAL, AND
 ARCHAEOLOGICAL  RESOURCES;  PUBLIC  PARKS,  PRESERVES  AND  RECREATIONAL
 RESOURCES; CONSERVED AND PROTECTED  LANDS;  HOSTING  CAPACITY;  DISTRIB-
 UTION,  AND  TRANSMISSION  LINES;  AND  TOPOGRAPHY AS RELEVANT TO SITING
 RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS.
   3. THE AUTHORITY SHALL COMPLETE AND  POST  THE  MAPPING  TOOL  ON  ITS
 WEBSITE ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SEVEN.
   § 1922. STUDY. 1. THE AUTHORITY, WITHIN TWELVE MONTHS OF THE EFFECTIVE
 DATE  OF  THIS TITLE, SHALL CONDUCT A STUDY OF THE FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY
 AND SUSTAINABILITY OF CONVERTING EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT TO  RENEWA-
 BLE ENERGY AS A PRIMARY SOURCE OF ENERGY.
   2. SUCH STUDY SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (A)  THE ABILITY OF EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT TO SAFELY HOUSE ITS OWN INDE-
 PENDENT ENERGY HARNESSING SOURCE AND STORE THE ENERGY HARNESSED, INCLUD-
 ING THE USE OF NEARBY STRUCTURES TO CREATE LOCAL STORAGE BATTERY FACILI-
 TIES NEARBY;
   (B) THE ABILITY TO PLUG SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT CONNECTED TO A  RENEWABLE
 ENERGY  SOURCE INTO EXISTING RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES, INCLUDING BUT NOT
 LIMITED TO SOLAR FARMS, HYDROGEN ENERGY PLANTS, WIND FARMS,  GEOTHERMAL,
 AND  OTHER  RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES, AS APPROVED BY THE AUTHORITY, THAT
 ARE NEARBY;
   (C) THE CREATION OF MICROGRIDS TO CONNECT SCHOOL  DISTRICTS  TO  LOCAL
 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES, AND THE COST TO UPKEEP SUCH MICROGRIDS; AND
   (D)  RECOMMENDATIONS  REGARDING  THE  MOST  FEASIBLE  RENEWABLE ENERGY
 SOURCES FOR CONVERTING PUBLIC  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS  TO  RENEWABLE  ENERGY,
 INCLUDING  THE  MOST  COST-EFFECTIVE ROUTES TO CONNECT SCHOOLS WITH SUCH
 RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES.
   § 1923. REPORTING. 1. (A) THE AUTHORITY, NO LATER  THAN  THREE  MONTHS
 FOLLOWING  THE  COMPLETION  OF  THE MAPPING REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION
 NINETEEN HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE OF THIS TITLE AND THE STUDY REQUIRED  PURSU-
 ANT TO SECTION NINETEEN HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO OF THIS TITLE, SHALL SUBMIT A
 REPORT  TO  THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND THE
 SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, CONTAINING THE RESULTS OF SUCH MAPPING AND  THE
 FINDINGS OF SUCH STUDY.
   (B)  THE REPORT REQUIRED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION
 SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (I) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE MOST EFFICIENT WAYS TO CONVERT SCHOOLS  TO
 RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS; AND
   (II)  RECOMMENDATIONS  FOR  FINANCIAL  SAVINGS PROGRAMS TO INCENTIVIZE
 SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO CONVERT TO RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS.
   2. THE AUTHORITY, NO LATER THAN TWELVE MONTHS FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION
 OF THE MAPPING REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION NINETEEN HUNDRED  TWENTY-ONE
 OF  THIS  TITLE  AND  THE  STUDY  REQUIRED  PURSUANT TO SECTION NINETEEN
 HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO OF THIS TITLE, SHALL SUBMIT A SECOND  REPORT  TO  THE
 GOVERNOR,  THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND THE SPEAKER OF THE
 ASSEMBLY, CONTAINING PROJECTIONS REGARDING THE SUSTAINABILITY AND UPKEEP
 COSTS OF THE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS RECOMMENDED IN THE  FIRST  REPORT
 REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION.
   § 3. Section 1854 of the public authorities law is amended by adding a
 new subdivision 9 to read as follows:
 S. 2482                             3
 
   9. TO DEVELOP AND PROVIDE A MAPPING TOOL AND ASSISTANCE TO EACH PUBLIC
 SCHOOL  DISTRICT  IN CONVERTING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AS A PRIMARY
 SOURCE OF ENERGY PURSUANT TO TITLE NINE-D OF THIS ARTICLE.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.

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