Assemblyman Brindisi’s Legislation to Help Reduce Electric Costs for Farm Owners is Signed into Law

August 9, 2012

Albany – Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Anthony J. Brindisi (D-Utica) designed to help farmers and non-residential utility customers who produce electricity has been signed into law by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.

Brindisi says the legislation (A.9560/S.6670) will now expand the state’s remote net-metering law to include micro-hydroelectric electricity generation. Previously, the net metering law only applied to electricity produced by wind, solar, or farm waste energy generating equipment used by farm and non-residential customers who generate power. The new law will now allows qualified customers to apply credit received for power delivered to any of the meters on their property, rather than just the meter where the power is produced. Customers with renewable energy systems will still be able to sell excess energy back to their local utilities.

“This new law will help reduce electric costs for farmers who generate their own electricity,” Brindisi said. “It not only helps our state’s agricultural economy, but it encourages more use of renewable energy sources.”

“Having the new ability to net-meter using micro-hydroelectric generating equipment will expand the options available to New York farmers who choose to use renewable energy methods,” said Dean Norton, President of the New York Farm Bureau. “Not only can this help farmers contain high energy prices, but it will support their efforts on being good stewards of their land and natural resources. The New York Farm Bureau commends Assemblyman Brindisi’s successful efforts on the legislation and his support for New York agriculture.”

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