Directs the New York state energy research and development authority to establish a floating solar incentive and education program to provide information and resources including technical assistance, access to industry standards, and financing available through the authority or other public or private sector sources, to municipalities, developers, builders, design professionals, and potential owners for the construction of floating solar.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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4571--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 7, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. HARCKHAM -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommuni-
cations -- reported favorably from said committee and committed to the
Committee on Finance -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing
a floating solar incentive and education program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new
2 section 1885 to read as follows:
3 § 1885. Floating solar incentive and education program. 1. As used in
4 this section the term "floating solar" shall mean solar photovoltaic
5 systems mounted on floating structures or platforms on the surface of a
6 body of water, including but not limited to canals, lakes, reservoirs,
7 and ponds.
8 2. The authority shall establish and maintain a floating solar incen-
9 tive and education program pursuant to standards and criteria promulgat-
10 ed by the authority which shall provide information and resources
11 including technical assistance, access to industry standards, and
12 financing available through the authority or other public or private
13 sector sources, to municipalities, developers, builders, design profes-
14 sionals, and potential owners for the construction of floating solar.
15 3. The program shall include, but shall not be limited to:
16 (a) Grants for the development of floating solar on sites that are
17 constructed on canals, reservoirs, commercial and industrial ponds, and
18 any other artificially created body of water suitable for siting a
19 floating solar project;
20 (b) Identification of best practices and strategies for siting float-
21 ing solar projects that protect the ecosystems of bodies of water;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09075-02-5
S. 4571--A 2
1 (c) Monitoring any impacts floating solar may have on water quality,
2 water conservation, and algae control; and
3 (d) Establishing and distributing educational materials and resources
4 about siting, construction, maintenance, and available incentives on
5 floating solar.
6 4. The authority, in consultation with the public service commission
7 and the department of environmental conservation, shall promulgate all
8 rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of the program.
9 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
10 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
11 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
12 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
13 completed on or before such effective date.
