NY State Senate Bill 2025-S6570

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Environmental Conservation 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
Mar 17, 2025	referred to environmental conservation

2025-S6570 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Environmental Conservation
Law Section:: Environmental Conservation Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §75-0103, En Con L; add §66-x, amd §66-j, Pub Serv L

2025-S6570 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Enacts the accelerate solar for affordable power (ASAP) act to set a new target for distributed solar energy capacity and direct the public service commission to advance reforms to the utility interconnection process to ensure timely and cost-effective integration of new distributed energy resources.

2025-S6570 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S6570

SPONSOR: HARCKHAM
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the environmental conservation law and the public
service law, in relation to enacting the accelerate solar for affordable
power (ASAP) act

 
PURPOSE:

The bill aims to expand access to solar energy for low- and moderate-in-
come households by streamlining regulations, incentivizing solar devel-
opment, and ensuring there is equitable distribution of renewable energy
benefits.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 establishes the short title of the act as the "Accelerate
Solar for Affordable Power (ASAP) Act."

Section 2 outlines the legislative findings and intent,stating that

increasing distributed solar energy capacity and reducing intercon-
nection costs are essential for affordability, economic development, and
environmental goals. It also expresses the legislature's intent to amend
the CLCPA to set a new target for distributed solar energy capacity and
directs the Public Service Commission (PSC) to implement interconnection
reforms.

Section 3 amends paragraph (e) of subdivision 75-0103 of the Environ-
mental Conservation Law to increase the statewide distributed solar
energy target from six gigawatts by 2025 to twenty gigawatts by 2035.

Section 4 adds a new section 66-x to the Public Service Law requiring
utilities to file annual reports on interconnection upgrade costs, track
and disclose actual costs, and allow public access to this data. It also
mandates the development of a self-performance program for distributed
energy resource (DER) companies to complete certain upgrades independ-
ently, sets requirements for prevailing wages, and directs the PSC to
create cost-certainty measures to prevent excessive utility cost over-
runs.

Section 5 amends subdivision 1 of section 66-j of the Public Service Law
to define flexible interconnection" as the use of smart-grid technology
to actively manage DERs.

Section 6 will require the PSC to establish a statewide flexible inter-
connection program within one year, with clear curtailment limits, tran-
sparent pricing, and technical flexibility. It also directs them to
create a distribution system investment program to expand DER hosting
capacity and requires annual utility reporting on investments made.

Section 7 directs NYSERDA and the Department of Public Service to
continue the NY-Sun program with incentives prioritizing low- to moder-
ate-income households and disadvantaged communities. It also directs the
PSC to issue necessary orders to implement the provisions of this act.

Section 8 sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York must expand its distributed solar capacity and improve the
interconnection process to meet its clean energy, affordability, and
economic development goals.This bill strengthens the state's commitment
to solar energy by raising the distributed solar target to 20 gigawatts
by 2035, ensuring continued growth in a proven and successful clean
energy sector. It also advances critical interconnection reforms that
will reduce costs, shorten project timelines, and allow for proactive
grid investments to accommodate more solar capacity efficiently.

The bill also strongly aligns with the CLCPA goals, supports clean ener-
gy job growth, and helps lower electricity costs for consumers by reduc-
ing reliance on fossil fuels. By improving transparency in utility
upgrade costs and introducing competitive reforms, it will prevent
unnecessary expenses that drive up project costs and slow deployment.
Additionally, by continuing the NY-Sun program, the bill provides long-
term market certainty, attracts private investment, and ensures that at
least 35% of program benefits reach disadvantaged communities, further
advancing equity and economic

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S6570 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6570
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 17, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. HARCKHAM -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
 
 AN ACT to amend  the  environmental  conservation  law  and  the  public
   service law, in relation to enacting the accelerate solar for afforda-
   ble power (ASAP) act

   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 "accelerate solar for affordable power (ASAP) act".
   §  2.  Legislative  findings  and  intent.  The legislature finds that
 increasing distributed solar  energy  capacity  and  lowering  intercon-
 nection  costs  are  essential  for achieving the state's affordability,
 economic development, and environmental goals. It is the intent  of  the
 legislature to amend the climate leadership and community protection act
 to set a new target for distributed solar energy capacity and direct the
 public  service  commission  to advance reforms to the utility intercon-
 nection process to ensure timely and cost-effective integration  of  new
 distributed  energy resources, such as solar and energy storage systems,
 into the electric distribution system.
   § 3. Paragraph e of subdivision 13 of section 75-0103 of the  environ-
 mental conservation law, as added by chapter 106 of the laws of 2019, is
 amended to read as follows:
   e.  Measures  to  achieve  [six] TWENTY gigawatts of distributed solar
 energy capacity installed in the state  by  two  thousand  [twenty-five]
 THIRTY-FIVE,  nine  gigawatts of offshore wind capacity installed by two
 thousand thirty-five, a statewide energy efficiency goal of one  hundred
 eighty-five trillion British thermal units energy reduction from the two
 thousand  twenty-five  forecast; and three gigawatts of statewide energy
 storage capacity by two thousand thirty.
   § 4. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 66-x to
 read as follows:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10828-01-5

 S. 6570                             2
 
   § 66-X. INTERCONNECTION REFORMS. 1. (A)  WITHIN  NINETY  DAYS  OF  THE
 EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF  THIS  SECTION  THE  COMMISSION SHALL ISSUE AN ORDER
 REQUIRING EVERY ELECTRIC CORPORATION TO FILE A REPORT WITH  THE  COMMIS-
 SION  WHICH  SHALL  INCLUDE  ITEMIZED COSTS OF COMPLETED UPGRADES TO THE
 ELECTRIC  DISTRIBUTION  SYSTEM  REQUIRED  IN  ORDER  TO INTERCONNECT NEW
 DISTRIBUTED ENERGY  RESOURCES  IN  THE  PRIOR  CALENDAR  CATEGORIZED  BY
 UPGRADE  TYPE  AND  EQUIPMENT  TYPE ANNUALLY BY MARCH THIRTY-FIRST. SUCH
 REPORTS SHALL BE ACCOMPANIED BY SUFFICIENT SUPPORTING  DOCUMENTATION  AS
 DETERMINED  BY  THE  COMMISSION,  AND SHALL BE SUBJECT TO INSPECTION AND
 PUBLIC COMMENT  BEFORE  ADOPTION  BY  THE  COMMISSION.  ADOPTED  REPORTS
 RECEIVED  PURSUANT  TO  THIS  PARAGRAPH  SHALL BE THE BASIS FOR ELECTRIC
 CORPORATIONS TO DEVELOP FUTURE DISTRIBUTION UPGRADE COST ESTIMATES.
   (B) ELECTRIC CORPORATIONS SHALL TRACK ACTUAL COSTS OF ALL DISTRIBUTION
 UPGRADES THEY PERFORM AND DISCLOSE SUCH COSTS TO THE DEPARTMENT  AND  TO
 THE  DISTRIBUTED  ENERGY RESOURCE COMPANY THAT PAID FOR THE UPGRADE. THE
 DEPARTMENT SHALL MAINTAIN A DATABASE ON ITS PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE  WEBSITE
 OF  ALL  DISCLOSED  COST  DATA  AND ANNUAL REPORTS SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO
 PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
   2. WITHIN NINETY DAYS OF  THE  EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF  THIS  SECTION  THE
 COMMISSION  SHALL  ISSUE AN ORDER DIRECTING ALL ELECTRIC CORPORATIONS TO
 DEVELOP A PROGRAM ALLOWING  DISTRIBUTED  ENERGY  RESOURCE  COMPANIES  TO
 SELF-PERFORM  CERTAIN  DISTRIBUTION  UPGRADES,  PROVIDED SUCH WORK MEETS
 SAFETY, RELIABILITY, LABOR AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS.  ELECTRIC  COMPANIES
 SHALL  ALLOW  SELF-PERFORMANCE OF POINT-OF-INTERCONNECTION FACILITIES ON
 DEENERGIZED LINES, INCLUDING EXPRESS FEEDERS. THE COMMISSION MAY CONSID-
 ER EXPANDING PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL SCOPES  OF  WORK
 IN  CONSULTATION  WITH THE ELECTRIC CORPORATIONS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.
 FOR PROJECTS ABOVE ONE MEGAWATT AC, PREVAILING WAGES SHALL  BE  REQUIRED
 FOR ANY WORK PERFORMED UNDER A PROGRAM DEVELOPED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDI-
 VISION. ELECTRIC CORPORATIONS SHALL NOT IMPOSE UNREASONABLE RESTRICTIONS
 ON  SELF-PERFORMED  UPGRADES  AND  SHALL  RESPOND  TO CUSTOMER-SUBMITTED
 UPGRADE PLANS WITHIN THIRTY DAYS.  ELECTRIC  CORPORATION  CUSTOMERS  MAY
 APPEAL THE DENIAL OF A SELF-PERFORMANCE REQUEST TO THE COMMISSION, WHICH
 SHALL  ADJUDICATE SUCH DISPUTES WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF THE RECEIPT OF SUCH
 APPEAL.
   3. THE COMMISSION SHALL CONSIDER PROPOSALS TO CREATE GREATER COST-CER-
 TAINTY FOR DISTRIBUTION UPGRADES IN ORDER TO LIMIT THE RISK OF  UNCAPPED
 UTILITY  COST  OVERRUNS,  AND  THE  COMMISSION  SHALL  ISSUE AN ORDER TO
 INCREASE COST-CERTAINTY AND COUNTERACT UTILITY COST OVERRUNS WITHIN  ONE
 HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.
   §  5.  Subdivision  1  of  section  66-j  of the public service law is
 amended by adding a new paragraph (j) to read as follows:
   (J) "FLEXIBLE INTERCONNECTION" MEANS THE USE OF SMART-GRID  TECHNOLOGY
 TO MONITOR AND ACTIVELY MANAGE DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES.
   §  6.  Section 66-j of the public service law is amended by adding two
 new subdivisions 2-a and 6-a to read as follows:
   2-A. FLEXIBLE INTERCONNECTION. (A) THE COMMISSION SHALL  DIRECT  EVERY
 ELECTRIC  CORPORATION  TO  DEVELOP  A  PROPOSAL FOR A FLEXIBLE INTERCON-
 NECTION PROGRAM TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THE STATE. WITHIN  NINETY  DAYS  OF
 THE  EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION,  ELECTRIC CORPORATIONS WITH
 ACTIVE FLEXIBLE INTERCONNECTION PILOT PROJECTS  SHALL  FILE  A  FLEXIBLE
 INTERCONNECTION IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, INCLUDING PROPOSED TARIFF MODIFICA-
 TIONS  AND INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT CONTRACT LANGUAGE, WITH THE COMMIS-
 SION. THE COMMISSION SHALL  SOLICIT  PUBLIC  COMMENTS  ON  THE  ELECTRIC
 CORPORATION  PROPOSALS, CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS, CONVENE AT LEAST
 TWO TECHNICAL CONFERENCES, AND CONSULT WITH STAKEHOLDERS THROUGHOUT  THE
 S. 6570                             3

 PROCESS  OF  PROGRAM  DEVELOPMENT. EVERY ELECTRIC CORPORATION WHICH DOES
 NOT HAVE AN ACTIVE FLEXIBLE INTERCONNECTION  PILOT  PROJECT  SHALL  FILE
 COMMENTS  IN  RESPONSE  TO THE INITIAL PROPOSAL AND MAY FILE ALTERNATIVE
 PROPOSALS  FOR  CONSIDERATION.  WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF
 THIS SUBDIVISION, THE COMMISSION SHALL ISSUE  AN  ORDER  ESTABLISHING  A
 UNIFORM  STATEWIDE  FLEXIBLE INTERCONNECTION PROGRAM. SUCH PROGRAM SHALL
 INCLUDE CLEARLY DEFINED LIMITS TO ANNUAL ENERGY  CURTAILMENT  FOR  SOLAR
 ENERGY SYSTEMS AND SHALL INCLUDE TRANSPARENT PRICING FOR CUSTOMER-FUNDED
 EQUIPMENT,  SOFTWARE AND OPERATING EXPENSES. THIS PROGRAM SHALL BE TECH-
 NOLOGY AGNOSTIC, AND ELECTRIC CORPORATIONS MUST  CONSIDER  CUSTOMER-PRO-
 POSED   FLEXIBLE  INTERCONNECTION  SOLUTIONS  THAT  MEET  THE  TECHNICAL
 REQUIREMENTS OF THE ELECTRIC CORPORATION.
   (B) THE COMMISSION SHALL ESTABLISH GUIDELINES AND  TIMELINES  FOR  THE
 IMPLEMENTATION  OF FLEXIBLE INTERCONNECTION PROCEDURES TO LOWER THE COST
 AND SHORTEN THE TIMELINE TO INTEGRATE DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES.
   6-A. DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCE CAPACITY EXPANSION. (A) WITHIN  THREE
 MONTHS  OF  THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE COMMISSION SHALL
 ESTABLISH A DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM INVESTMENT PROGRAM WHOSE PURPOSE  IS  TO
 IDENTIFY   AND  DIRECT  ELECTRIC  CORPORATIONS  TO  IMPLEMENT  PROACTIVE
 DISTRIBUTION UPGRADES THAT CREATE DISTRIBUTED  ENERGY  RESOURCE  HOSTING
 CAPACITY.  SUCH  PROGRAM  SHALL  BE INTEGRATED INTO THE COORDINATED GRID
 PLANNING PROCESS, AND ELECTRIC CORPORATIONS SHALL SUBMIT ANNUAL  REPORTS
 TO  THE  COMMISSION  DETAILING  ACTIONS  TAKEN  AND ELECTRIC CORPORATION
 INVESTMENTS MADE TO  EXPAND  HOSTING  CAPACITY  FOR  DISTRIBUTED  ENERGY
 RESOURCES.
   (B) THE COMMISSION SHALL ESTABLISH A DEFINED DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM VOLT-
 AGE  THRESHOLD OF 69KV, EXCLUDING ANY LINES UNDER FEDERAL ENERGY REGULA-
 TORY COMMISSION JURISDICTION, SUCH THAT ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE OWNED BY
 ELECTRIC CORPORATIONS WITH A VOLTAGE AT OR BELOW 69KV SHALL  BE  CONSID-
 ERED DISTRIBUTION FOR THE PURPOSES OF DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCE INTER-
 CONNECTION AND DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCE COMPENSATION. ALL DISTRIBUTED
 ENERGY  RESOURCES  SEEKING  TO  INTERCONNECT  TO THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
 SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR INTERCONNECTION UNDER THE NEW YORK STATE STANDARD-
 IZED INTERCONNECTION REQUIREMENTS AND SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR COMPENSATION
 UNDER THE VALUE OF DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES TARIFF.
   § 7. Implementation. 1. The New York state energy research and  devel-
 opment  authority  (NYSERDA),  in  collaboration  with the department of
 public service, is hereby directed to file a proposal  to  continue  the
 NY-Sun  program  to develop and implement initiatives necessary to cost-
 effectively achieve the new distributed solar goal  set  forth  in  this
 act.  The  implementation plan shall include incentives and other initi-
 atives to support rooftop solar for homes  and  businesses  as  well  as
 community solar, with at least thirty-five percent of program investment
 benefiting low- to moderate-income households and disadvantaged communi-
 ties.  The  implementation plan may include rate design improvements and
 additional interconnection reforms to lower the cost of the program.
   2. From available funds,  the  public  service  commission  is  hereby
 directed to issue an order authorizing additional funding to NYSERDA for
 the continuation of the NY-Sun program. Such funding shall be sufficient
 to  support  the  development  and  implementation  of  the  initiatives
 required to meet the new distributed solar goal. NY-Sun funding  may  be
 authorized  by  the  commission  in increments to control program costs,
 provided that these increments must be sufficient to  support  at  least
 two gigawatts of solar energy capacity each. The commission shall ensure
 that  the  NY-Sun  program  operates continuously, without interruption,
 until the distributed solar goal is reached.
 S. 6570                             4
 
   3. The public service commission is hereby directed  to  issue  orders
 necessary  to  effectuate  the provisions and modifications set forth in
 this act.
   § 8. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S6570

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Environmental Conservation Committee

2025-S6570 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S6570 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S6570 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S6570 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S6570

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Pete Harckham

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Environmental Conservation Committee

2025-S6570 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S6570 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S6570 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S6570 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments