SUMMARY RECOMMENDATIONS

The Task Force determined the 16 recommendations contained in this report are integral to a comprehensive policy Roadmap to move New York towards greater renewable energy development and greater energy independence. The following five recommendations comprise the central elements of this Roadmap.

• Re-Commit to Meeting the State’s Renewable Portfolio Standard Goal and Evaluate Raising Renewable Energy Target: To instill investor confidence in the future renewable power markets in New York, and to ensure the State meets its renewable energy goals, full funding should be provided for the RPS program. The revised cost study currently underway at the Department of Public Service should provide the information necessary for the Public Service Commission to expeditiously authorize the collection of all funding needed to achieve New York’s RPS goals.
• Enhance and Expand New York’s Existing Net Metering Law: Net metering is a simple, low-cost program that allows electricity customers who operate their own on-site distributed generators to deliver excess power to their local utility, which then distributes it to other customers. New York’s current net metering law contains size limitations and customer class exclusions that limit the growth of the renewable energy market in multiple ways. The Task Force calls for the Legislature to pass a new net-metering law this year to allow net metering for all customer classes where appropriate; increase size for projects eligible for net metering; and require detailed annual reporting by electric power companies to the PSC.
• Invest in Clean Energy Businesses for Economic Growth: New York currently invests in clean-tech industry initiatives through NYSERDA and the Empire State Development Corporation. In order to support New York’s national leadership in clean-tech business growth, the State should continue to enhance and expand these collaborative clean-tech initiatives. The state should increase its funding commitment by a minimum of $400 million over four years through financial incentives to support technology clusters. In addition, the State should: increase opportunities for Minority and Women-Owned Businesses and businesses located in disadvantaged communities; enter into long-term state contracts for transportation and space heating fuels; and review public pension fund investment guidelines and state and local tax policies to stimulate investment.
• Build a Sustainable Market for Solar Energy in New York State: The Task Force recommends a comprehensive set of programs to address market needs along with an investment in public/private research to ensure that New York continues to capture the economic benefits of solar energy. Programs will focus on: creating incentives for solar system manufacturers to develop and distribute their products in New York; promoting cost-efficient systems; creating well-paying solar installation jobs; and creating incentives for both homeowners and businesses to choose solar photovoltaic and solar thermal energy. To jumpstart the growth of the solar industry in New York, the State should set a goal to install 100 MW of solar photovoltaic and 1,100 solar thermal systems statewide by 2011.
• Develop a Strategy to Reap the Benefits of New York’s Wind Energy Potential: Wind energy offers the opportunity for clean, renewable power to be generated in New York State. The Task Force recommends that the state commit to realizing the potential of wind energy by addressing local siting and permitting issues, and conducting studies to address transmission and infrastructure limitations. New York has the most wind energy development potential in the northeast and mid-Atlantic region. The more than 5,000 MW of wind energy that has applied for interconnection to the grid shows the industry's interest in and commitment to New York, and the State should support project development and interconnection efforts.

Adherence to the following additional recommendations is essential to the comprehensive, fully-integrated implementation of the State’s Roadmap to greater renewable energy development:

• Develop Both a Renewable Fuels Roadmap and a Sustainable Biomass Feedstock Study: The Task force believes that current state policy on renewable fuels is not adequate and that no single renewable fuel will answer the increasing energy needs of the State. New York should address critical concerns regarding the specific fuels we may use – both to solve our energy mandates, and to prioritize environmental, land-use and health concerns in policy-decision making. As a result of the Task Force initiative, the state is proceeding with an RFP for the development of the renewable fuels roadmap and feedstock study.
• Expand Training Programs to Sustain a Green Collar Workforce: Renewable energy research, development, and installation are emerging job growth sectors. We recommend that the State align and expand existing accredited training programs to recruit and develop an abundant supply of highly skilled workers who can design, install and maintain renewable energy and energy efficiency systems across the state. The state departments and agencies that provide workforce training programs – Department of Labor, NYSERDA, SUNY, and others – should collaboratively and immediately conduct an inventory of existing programs, and streamline or develop programs to suit the needs of the state’s growing renewable energy sector.
• Improve Overall Agency Consistency and Coordination: The State should consider reconstituting the State Energy Planning Board to facilitate consistent policy and program implementation.
• Use Creative Financing to Promote Investment in the Renewable Energy Industry: The Task Force recommends that the State explore all alternative-financing mechanisms available to support its renewable energy and efficiency goals, such as a Clean Energy Bond Act initiative; and investment and production tax credits.
• Expand Research and Development efforts for Renewable Energy: The Task Force recommends that the state fund research for solar, bio-fuels, small wind, Combined Heat and Power/efficiency demonstrations, grid interconnection, energy storage, and end-use efficiency technologies by implementing multi-year research programs. Included in this recommendation is the establishment of a Center for Advanced Technology, with a focus on the development and enhancement of processes and products involving renewable energy and bio fuel systems.
• Reclaim a Leadership Role Through Building and Product Energy Performance: A comprehensive building and product efficiency program in New York, combined with updated energy codes and low-income affordable housing programs, will provide a competitive advantage to New York as well as increased environmental and economic benefits.
• Encourage the Use of Advanced Metering and Smart-Grid Technology: The Public Service Commission should accelerate the implementation of advanced metering policies, which will allow consumers to remotely control their electric use, provide time sensitive monitoring of electricity use, and use price signals to increase consumer awareness of electricity use and reduce peak electricity consumption.
• Build on Public and Private Educational Programs: The role of education is critical in bringing about the transformational changes in, and public acceptance of, the clean energy sector. The State needs an aggressive statewide consumer educational campaign to increase market awareness.
• Facilitate Interconnection Processes for Renewable Distributed Generation: The Public Service Commission and the Long Island Power Authority should explore a more streamlined, transparent interconnection process for renewable distributed generation installations.
• Expand Purchases of Renewable Energy by Local Governments: In order to facilitate the utilization of green power at all levels of government, the State should identify and address any statutory or regulatory barriers to municipal government purchases of green power.
• Create a Vehicle Efficiency/Vehicle Miles Traveled Working Group: New York should create an interagency working group to develop a strategy to reduce vehicle miles traveled and increase vehicle efficiency, including through the greater use of car pooling.

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