A 9003: 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 ________________________________________________________________________ 9003 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY August 13, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. GALLAGHER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Energy 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. 19 § 2. For the purposes of this act, the following terms shall have the 20 following meanings: EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD11998-04-5 
 A. 9003 2 1 (a) "peaker plant electric generating facility" and "peaker plant" 2 shall mean a major electric generating facility as defined in paragraph 3 b of subdivision one of section 19-0312 of the environmental conserva- 4 tion law that burns coal, oil, diesel, or natural gas and was opera- 5 tional and generated electricity less than fifteen percent of the year 6 during at least two years between 2014 and 2024; 7 (b) "disadvantaged communities" shall mean areas burdened by cumula- 8 tive environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative 9 public health effects; 10 (c) "renewable energy" and "renewable energy systems" shall have the 11 same meanings as set forth in section 66-p of the public service law; 12 and 13 (d) "qualified energy storage system" shall have the same meaning as 14 set forth in section 74 of the public service law. 15 § 3. The New York state energy research and development authority, in 16 consultation with the public service commission and New York power 17 authority, is authorized and directed to conduct a study to assess clos- 18 ing the following New York power authority peaker plants; the Kent peak- 19 er plant, located at North 1st and Grand 47-79 River, Brooklyn, NY 20 11211, the Brentwood peaker plant, located at West End Campus Road, 21 Brentwood, NY 11717, the Vernon peaker plant, located at 38-54 Vernon 22 Blvd, Astoria, NY 11101, and the potential impact on the surrounding 23 area. Such study shall include, but not be limited to: 24 (a) the change in electricity wholesale prices, delivery rates, and 25 total bills that energy consumers in this state will pay, including 26 indirect energy costs; 27 (b) identifying other existing peaker plant electric generating facil- 28 ities, renewable energy systems and qualified energy storage systems 29 that can compensate for the closure of the Kent, the Vernon and the 30 Brentwood peaker plants, with preference given to qualified energy stor- 31 age systems and renewable energy systems; 32 (c) the impact of renewable energy systems on the reliability of the 33 electric system in the state, including, but not limited to, how to 34 maintain reliability when solar and wind resources are not generating 35 requisite power and how reliability can be maintained if fast-ramping 36 gas-fired generation is phased out; 37 (d) proposing a strategy to replace the plants with renewable energy 38 systems or qualified energy storage systems or a combination thereof; 39 (e) energy systems that would maintain reliable energy output during a 40 transition period; 41 (f) potential effect of such a transition on disadvantaged communi- 42 ties; 43 (g) the discharge, displacement, or loss of position, including 44 partial displacement such as a reduction in the hours of non-overtime 45 work, wages, or employment benefits; 46 (h) the impairment of existing collective bargaining agreements; 47 (i) identifying means to establish the following: 48 i. the transfer of existing duties and functions to renewable energy 49 systems; and 50 ii. the transfer of future duties and functions, of employed workers 51 located at the peaker plants impacted by this act and how they can be 52 retrained in renewable energy system work places; 53 (j) the impact on black start capabilities within New York city and 54 throughout the state, and what alternatives can be deployed to maintain 55 grid reliability and resiliency; and 
 A. 9003 3 1 (k) any legal barriers that may exist to reusing these peaker plant 2 sites for repowering projects and how those barriers can be overcome by 3 legislation, and/or rules or regulations. 4 § 4. The New York power authority, in consultation with the the public 5 service commission and New York state energy research and development 6 authority, may conduct any hearings or take any written testimony as it 7 deems necessary in order to aid such study, and shall take all other 8 steps necessary to provide a thorough analysis of all issues related to 9 the provisions listed in section three of this act. 10 § 5. The New York power authority, in consultation with the public 11 service commission and New York state energy research and development 12 authority, shall issue a final report no later than one year after the 13 effective date of this act to the governor, the speaker of the assembly, 14 the temporary president of the senate, and the chairs of the assembly 15 committee on energy and the senate committee on energy and telecommuni- 16 cations, and post a copy of such report on the New York power authori- 17 ty's website. 18 § 6. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be 19 deemed repealed 2 years after such date.