Assembly Passes Net Metering Act To Encourage Renewable Energy Production

Bill Would Provide Immediate Credits For Consumers Who Produce Energy From Solar, Wind, Farm Waste, and Fuel Cell Technologies

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assembly Energy Committee Chair Kevin Cahill announced passage earlier this week of legislation (A.9902/Englebright) that would encourage greater use of clean and renewable energy by expanding the state's net metering law to allow all utility customers, including homeowners, farms, businesses, municipalities, school districts and non-profit organizations to receive credits for energy they produce through solar, wind, farm waste and fuel cell technologies. Under the current law, only residential and agricultural consumers are permitted to sell excess energy to utility companies.

"In a time of great uncertainty over the rising cost of energy for homeowners and businesses, the Assembly is again leading the way by expanding net metering to help energy consumers across the state," said Silver (D-Manhattan). "New York will support and expand its capacity to produce renewable energy by offering utility customers a greater incentive to harness environmentally friendly technologies such as wind and solar power. This legislation will help New York become a leader in offering its residents more choice in how they power their homes, businesses, schools and other buildings."

"Together with conservation, net metering - essentially allowing utility customers to generate their own power and turn the meter backwards - represents our best hope to fill the pending gap in our immediate power needs," said Cahill (D-Kingston). "The Assembly continues to show great leadership in protecting the environment, meeting our energy needs and making electricity affordable once again."

"The fact that New York urgently needs to expand significantly its net metering law is as obvious as the sun rising in the morning," said Assemblyman Steve Englebright D-Brookhaven). "Net metering is a low-cost, easily administered method of encouraging customer investment in clean, carbon-free renewable energy technologies. By expanding our current net-metering law to permit businesses, non-profits, schools, churches and libraries to participate, we greatly expand the number of citizen pioneers in the development of much needed renewable energy production. This is good for both our environment and the promotion of New York's green technology industries."

The legislation also adds fuel cells to the list of renewable energy sources included in net metering. The bill would require electric companies to develop contracts with consumers to issue them credit towards their utility bill for the electricity they produce.