Bill > A06181

This bill enacts the "biomass fired exception program" to provide an exception for certain biomass-fired electric generation facilities from the definition of a fossil fuel-fired facility for the purposes of the CO2 budget trading program. The bill aims to encourage the conversion of coal-fired electric generating facilities to biomass-fired facilities, as combustion of biomass is considered more sustainable and environmentally friendly. The bill defines key terms, such as "boiler," "combustion turbine," and "eligible biomass," and directs the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation to promulgate rules and regulations to treat formerly coal-fired facilities that convert to primarily biomass-fired facilities in the same manner as new biomass facilities under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) regulations.