Authorizes the New York state energy research and development authority to enter into agreements to establish a New York renewable energy laboratory to develop renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and practices, advance related science and engineering, create jobs, promote economic development and manufacturing, and transfer knowledge and innovations to address the state's energy and environmental goals.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6058
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 16, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sen. SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommuni-
cations
AN ACT to authorize the New York state energy research and development
authority to enter into agreements to establish a New York renewable
energy laboratory
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative findings. New York state is committed to
2 expanding and advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects
3 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce out of state dependency on
4 fossil fuels, promote public health and create new jobs. The goal of
5 this act is to make the state of New York a national and global leader
6 in renewable energy research and development.
7 § 2. For purposes of this act "NYREL" means the New York renewable
8 energy laboratory.
9 § 3. (a) The New York state energy research and development authority
10 shall undertake to establish, through public and private partnerships,
11 which shall include New York based colleges and universities, private
12 businesses, and not-for-profit entities, a NYREL to be headquartered
13 near JFK International Airport in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. Such
14 laboratory shall be an independent not-for-profit corporation organized
15 under the laws of the state of New York. It shall be governed by a board
16 of directors which shall have seventeen members.
17 (b) Such board shall include:
18 (i) one member appointed by the chancellor of the city university of
19 New York (CUNY);
20 (ii) one member appointed by the chancellor of the state university of
21 New York (SUNY);
22 (iii) four members appointed by the governor; one of whom shall be
23 appointed by the governor to be the chair;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11884-01-9
S. 6058 2
1 (iv) two members appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
2 (v) two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
3 (vi) the president of the New York state energy research and develop-
4 ment authority;
5 (vii) the president of empire state development;
6 (viii) the president of the New York power authority;
7 (ix) the president of the Long Island power authority;
8 (x) the commissioner of the department of environmental conservation;
9 (xi) the commissioner of the department of transportation; and
10 (xii) the chair of the New York public service commission.
11 (c) The New York state energy research and development authority shall
12 work with collaborating businesses and educational institutions to
13 ensure that a cooperative working relationship is established between
14 those institutions and potential participants of such research institute
15 so that resources are made available and used in a responsible manner to
16 support the successful development of the proposed research laboratory
17 and the creation of ongoing linkages between the training, research,
18 development, demonstration and technology transfer resources of the
19 region's higher education institutions, and private sector businesses.
20 (d) The mission of NYREL is to develop renewable energy and energy
21 efficiency technologies and practices, advance related science and engi-
22 neering, create jobs, promote economic development and manufacturing,
23 and transfer knowledge and innovations to address the state's energy and
24 environmental goals. NYREL shall emphasize a comprehensive energy
25 approach that encompasses the relationship among key systems: fuel
26 production; transportation; the built environment; and electricity
27 generation and delivery. Areas of research and development shall include
28 but not be limited to the following: solar, wind, geothermal, tidal,
29 energy storage, energy efficiency, hydropower, biofuel, smart grids and
30 alternative transportation, including electric vehicles. NYREL shall
31 have an education and training component. NYREL shall include a goal to
32 recruit minority students, scientists, engineers and MWBEs in its
33 programs.
34 (e) NYREL shall seek to develop partnerships especially with CUNY and
35 SUNY campuses in Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, Albany, Binghamton,
36 Hudson Valley, Long Island and the city of New York.
37 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.