Bill > A03466

This bill, known as the "Renewable Capitol Act," mandates that the Office of General Services (OGS), in collaboration with the Power Authority of the State of New York, must ensure that all energy used to power, heat, and cool the Empire State Plaza complex in Albany, New York, comes entirely from renewable energy systems by three years after the bill's effective date, with specific definitions provided for terms like "renewable energy systems" (which include solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and fuel cells not using fossil fuels) and the "Empire State Plaza complex." The bill also requires OGS to establish an advisory committee, composed of state officials, local community representatives, environmental justice advocates, and energy experts, to help develop a comprehensive "Empire State Plaza Decarbonization Plan" by January 31, 2027, outlining how to achieve these renewable energy goals, including strategies for thermal energy, local community benefits, and prioritizing renewable energy sources within a specific region of the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO). While the existing emergency generators at the complex are permitted to continue using non-renewable energy, OGS is empowered to convert them to renewables if possible, and the bill allows for waivers to the three-year deadline under specific circumstances, provided they are justified as outside OGS's control and do not impede statewide greenhouse gas emission limits.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3466