NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6009
SPONSOR: Cruz TITLE OF BILL:
An act to require the New York state energy research and development
authority to develop recommendations regarding the establishment of
microgrids
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Relates to a study of and recommendations for the possible establishment
of microgrids to help protect vital public health and safety operations
and infrastructure in the event of major disruption to the power grid.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1: The New York state energy research and development authori-
ty,in consultation with the department of public service and the divi-
sion of homeland security and emergency services, shall prepare a report
including recommendations regarding the establishment of microgrids for
protection of critical facilities in the state of New York.
Section 2: The authority shall submit the final report of recommenda-
tions to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the
speaker of the assembly within one year after the effective date of this
act
Section 3: This act shall take effect immediately.
JUSTIFICATION:
Superstorm Sandy inflicted about $62 billion in damage and other losses
in New York and New Jersey and Connecticut. Hospitals, schools, police
stations, and critical infrastructure lost their supply of electrici-
ty.Hospitals, nursing homes and facilities housing the disabled were
left without power, simultaneously creating life-threatening conditions
for chronically ill and informed patients. The latter group had to be
rescued from storm battered and flooded facilities by the National
Guard. While loss of life at these facilities was avoided during this
storm,future natural disasters could be more threatening and devastat-
ing. New Scientific estimates and flooding projections tell us that more
areas in New York State are now considered flood plains. In addition,
had SuperStorm Sandy been a category 3 or higher storm, over 85% of New
York Citywould have flooded. Had New York State constructed microgrids
to protect hospitals, first responder headquarters such as police and
fire stations, emergency shelters, schools, water filtration plants,
sewage treatment plants and other infrastructure, the extent of the
damage caused by SuperstormSandy would have been tremendously mitigated.
Microgrids are a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy
resources within clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a
single controllable entity with respect to the grid and can connect and
disconnect from the grid to enable it to operate in both grid-connected
or island-mode.The extent of severe damage caused by recent storms
demonstrates the tremendous benefits of having microgrids in place to
protect critical public health and safety infrastructure. It is very
clear that microgrids are needed in order to fully protect the expensive
and-extensive public safety and health infrastructure New York has
developed. In addition, microgrid technology can serve to save lives by
not only protecting the communication systems of first responders but
also by protecting the electrical needs of hospitals and nursing homes
where patients are connected to life-saving electrical equipment. This
legislation requires a study of the positive impact of rolling out
microgrid technology and requires recommendations on how to fund the
construction of such a system. The need for such information is needed
in order for New York to consider all the variables in emergency
preparedness and planning. Additionally, with New York State in the
process of receiving billions of dollars in federal disaster assis-
tance,this is an opportune time to examine how the construction of
microgrids will benefit all communities in New York State. This legis-
lation is part of a package of bills that positions New York To be
better prepared, more resilient and able to provide relief and recovery
assistance to impacted communities quickly.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: S8650A - Tabled
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None. This legislation will actually help prevent possible billions in
damage to state and municipal government operated public safety facili-
ties and infrastructure if microgrids technology is implemented as part
of emergency planning in New York State.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6009
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 30, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CRUZ, BURDICK, DARLING, SILLITTI, SIMON, WOERNER,
GLICK, J. A. GIGLIO, McDONOUGH -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Energy
AN ACT to require the New York state energy research and development
authority to develop recommendations regarding the establishment of
microgrids
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The New York state energy research and development author-
2 ity, in consultation with the department of public service and the divi-
3 sion of homeland security and emergency services, shall prepare a report
4 including recommendations regarding the establishment of microgrids for
5 protection of critical facilities in the state of New York. For purposes
6 of this act, the term "microgrid" shall mean a group of interconnected
7 loads and distributed energy resources within clearly defined electrical
8 boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the
9 grid and can connect and disconnect from the grid to enable it to oper-
10 ate in both grid-connected or island-mode. Specifically, the authority
11 shall develop recommendations which include, but are not limited to, the
12 following:
13 (a) Whether microgrids should be established at hospitals, first
14 responder headquarters, such as police and fire stations, emergency
15 shelters, schools, water filtration plants, sewage treatment plants and
16 other critical facilities in the state of New York;
17 (b) The geographic areas in the state of New York where the establish-
18 ment of microgrids should be a priority, based upon prior severe storm
19 damage and the consideration of disadvantaged communities as defined in
20 subdivision 5 of section 75-0101 of the environmental conservation law;
21 and
22 (c) Available or necessary funding mechanisms for the establishment of
23 microgrids.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06464-01-3
A. 6009 2
1 § 2. The authority shall submit the final report of recommendations to
2 the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of
3 the assembly within one year after the effective date of this act.
4 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
