Authorizes and directs the energy research and development authority, the public service commission and NYPA to conduct a study to determine the possibility of closing certain peaker plants.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7923--A
Cal. No. 1516
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 14, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. GONZALEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommuni-
cations -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first
and second report, ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered
reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT in relation to authorizing and directing the New York state ener-
gy research and development authority, the public service commission
and the New York power authority to conduct a study to determine the
possibility of closing the peaker plant electric generating facilities
in Brooklyn, NY; Brentwood, NY; Astoria, NY and providing for the
repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. Peaker plants have been
2 used to ensure grid reliability during high-demand periods. Peaker
3 plants are not used routinely throughout the year but instead are used
4 as backup energy sources in the event that the energy grid is under
5 increased pressure. Grid operators spend a large amount of money on
6 operating and maintaining these highly polluting plants so they can be
7 ready to quickly start up at times of peak demand, which are rare but
8 dangerous moments on the grid. Host communities where these power plants
9 are located have borne the burden of these power plants for years
10 concerning poor air quality, noise, and noxious odors. More than one-
11 third of New York's peaker plants primarily burn oil and over three-
12 quarters are at least 30 years old resulting in numerous inefficient
13 plants with high rates of greenhouse gas and health-damaging pollutant
14 emissions for every unit of electricity generated. Nearly a third of the
15 plants are located in areas the state considers to be environmental
16 justice communities (disadvantaged communities), where vulnerable popu-
17 lations typically experience high levels of health and environmental
18 burdens.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11998-03-5
S. 7923--A 2
1 § 2. For the purposes of this act, the following terms shall have the
2 following meanings:
3 (a) "peaker plant electric generating facility" and "peaker plant"
4 shall mean a major electric generating facility as defined in paragraph
5 b of subdivision one of section 19-0312 of the environmental conserva-
6 tion law that burns coal, oil, diesel, or natural gas and was opera-
7 tional and generated electricity less than fifteen percent of the year
8 during at least two years between 2014 and 2024;
9 (b) "disadvantaged communities" shall mean areas burdened by cumula-
10 tive environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative
11 public health effects;
12 (c) "renewable energy" and "renewable energy systems" shall have the
13 same meanings as set forth in section 66-p of the public service law;
14 and
15 (d) "qualified energy storage system" shall have the same meaning as
16 set forth in section 74 of the public service law.
17 § 3. The New York state energy research and development authority, in
18 consultation with the public service commission and New York power
19 authority, is authorized and directed to conduct a study to assess clos-
20 ing the following New York power authority peaker plants; the Kent peak-
21 er plant, located at North 1st and Grand 47-79 River, Brooklyn, NY
22 11211, the Brentwood peaker plant, located at West End Campus Road,
23 Brentwood, NY 11717, the Vernon peaker plant, located at 38-54 Vernon
24 Blvd, Astoria, NY 11101, and the potential impact on the surrounding
25 area. Such study shall include, but not be limited to:
26 (a) the change in electricity wholesale prices, delivery rates, and
27 total bills that energy consumers in this state will pay, including
28 indirect energy costs;
29 (b) identifying other existing peaker plant electric generating facil-
30 ities, renewable energy systems and qualified energy storage systems
31 that can compensate for the closure of the Kent, the Vernon and the
32 Brentwood peaker plants, with preference given to qualified energy stor-
33 age systems and renewable energy systems;
34 (c) the impact of renewable energy systems on the reliability of the
35 electric system in the state, including, but not limited to, how to
36 maintain reliability when solar and wind resources are not generating
37 requisite power and how reliability can be maintained if fast-ramping
38 gas-fired generation is phased out;
39 (d) proposing a strategy to replace the plants with renewable energy
40 systems or qualified energy storage systems or a combination thereof;
41 (e) energy systems that would maintain reliable energy output during a
42 transition period;
43 (f) potential effect of such a transition on disadvantaged communi-
44 ties;
45 (g) the discharge, displacement, or loss of position, including
46 partial displacement such as a reduction in the hours of non-overtime
47 work, wages, or employment benefits;
48 (h) the impairment of existing collective bargaining agreements;
49 (i) identifying means to establish the following:
50 i. the transfer of existing duties and functions to renewable energy
51 systems; and
52 ii. the transfer of future duties and functions, of employed workers
53 located at the peaker plants impacted by this act and how they can be
54 retrained in renewable energy system work places;
S. 7923--A 3
1 (j) the impact on black start capabilities within New York city and
2 throughout the state, and what alternatives can be deployed to maintain
3 grid reliability and resiliency; and
4 (k) any legal barriers that may exist to reusing these peaker plant
5 sites for repowering projects and how those barriers can be overcome by
6 legislation, and/or rules or regulations.
7 § 4. The New York power authority, in consultation with the the public
8 service commission and New York state energy research and development
9 authority, may conduct any hearings or take any written testimony as it
10 deems necessary in order to aid such study, and shall take all other
11 steps necessary to provide a thorough analysis of all issues related to
12 the provisions listed in section three of this act.
13 § 5. The New York power authority, in consultation with the public
14 service commission and New York state energy research and development
15 authority, shall issue a final report no later than one year after the
16 effective date of this act to the governor, the speaker of the assembly,
17 the temporary president of the senate, and the chairs of the assembly
18 committee on energy and the senate committee on energy and telecommuni-
19 cations, and post a copy of such report on the New York power authori-
20 ty's website.
21 § 6. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
22 deemed repealed 2 years after such date.
