BILL NUMBER: S8970
SPONSOR: ASHBY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
establishing a municipal solar planning grant program
 
PURPOSE:
To create state incentives for municipalities which maintain or exceed a
promulgated ratio of parking lot and rooftop solar projects relative to
ones which occupy open space.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 creates the Municipal Solar Planning Grant Program within the
environmental conservation law. It also creates a state-run database
that enables municipalities to track their distribution of solar energy
systems on agricultural land versus commercially-zoned properties.
Section 2 This act shall take effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
While the charge from New Yorkers to control their utility bills and the
reliability of our state's electrical grid are of paramount importance,
it's likewise critical that the siting and planning process for even
badly-needed energy projects favor outcomes that protect the arability,
natural beauty and biodiversity of our municipalities. This bill
requires NYSERDA to establish a statewide Solar Planning Grant Program
to provide incentives to localities which maintain or exceed a promul-
gated ratio of commercial, residential and parking lot solar projects
relative to those sited on open and agricultural land.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.