A8410

The New York State Senate unanimously passed legislation Tuesday requiring the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to provide expanded reporting to the Legislature on how it spends billions in ratepayer funds, with a 55-0 vote on Assembly Bill 8410. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Comrie, would require NYSERDA to submit its biannual financial reports not only to the Senate Finance Committee and Assembly Ways and Means Committee chairs, but also to the chairs of the Energy Committees in both houses, increasing legislative and public oversight. Comrie argued the measure addresses a lack of transparency and fiscal clarity in how NYSERDA accounts for and spends ratepayer money, noting that even energy advocates have difficulty understanding the agency's current reports. An amendment by Sen. O'Mara that would have returned approximately $3 billion in excess NYSERDA revenues to ratepayers for immediate relief was ruled nongermane and defeated. Sen. Walczyk supported the transparency measure, though he criticized NYSERDA's broader authority and blamed state energy policies for driving New York's utility rates 50.7% above the national average. Sen. Harckham corrected the record regarding cost projections, stating that earlier figures cited in debate were based on unrealistic carbon pricing assumptions.

The New York State Senate passed Assembly Bill 8410, sponsored by Assemblymember Sillitti, which amends the Public Health Law. The bill passed on a 43-17 vote. Seventeen senators, primarily Republicans, voted against the measure. The bill takes effect 180 days after becoming law.