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A08541 Summary:

BILL NOA08541
 
SAME ASSAME AS S07284
 
SPONSORStirpe
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSR
 
 
Directs the department of public service, in conjunction with the New York state energy research and development authority, and the power authority of the state of New York to commission a study on the utilization of directional noise reduction optimization technology for wind turbines in New York state.
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A08541 Actions:

BILL NOA08541
 
05/20/2025referred to energy
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A08541 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A8541
 
SPONSOR: Stirpe
  TITLE OF BILL: An act directing the department of public service, New York state energy research and development authority, and the power authority of the state of New York to commission a study on the utilization of directional noise reduction optimization technology for wind turbines in New York state   PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: The purpose of this bill is to better understand the use of DNRO tech- nology on onshore wind renewable energy projects.   SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1. Requires the Department of Public Service, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and the New. York Power Authority to commission a study on the utilization of DNRO technology for wind turbines in NYS. Section 2. Stipulates specific requirements that must be a part of the study. Section 3. Provides that upon completion, recommendations shall be made, if appropriate, as to any statutory or regulatory amendments needed. Section 4. Provides that the study shall be commissioned within 180 days of the effective date and recommendations provided to the legislature within one year of such commissioning date. Section 5. Sets an immediate effective date.   JUSTIFICATION: Article VIII of the New York State Public Service Law (NY Pub. Serv. Law § 160 et seq.) consolidates the environmental review, permitting, and siting of major renewable energy facilities in the State and includes specific requirements concerning sound levels for wind turbines to ensure they operate within acceptable noise limits and minimize impacts on surrounding communities. If noise levels exceed the permissi- ble limits in Article VIII or other applicable laws, wind turbine opera- tors must implement mitigation measures to reduce sound to acceptable levels. These measures can include technological adjustments to the turbines, such as curtailing turbine operation during certain times and under certain wind conditions. These technological adjustments are often referred to as Noise Reduced Operations or NROs. When a turbine operates in an NRO mode, the turbine operates at reduced capacity with reduced energy output. To address this loss of capacity, modern wind turbine manufacturers offer Directional Noise Reduction Optimization or DNRO, which activates these technological adjustments only when the wind direction is within a certain range. While reducing noise in certain directions, the turbine can still operate at optimal power in other wind directions, which allows for noise mitigation without significantly impacting power production in most wind conditions. DNRO represents an innovative approach to managing noise emissions of wind turbines while enhancing their operational efficiency. This study aims to provide the necessary scientific and technical data to inform policy decisions and ensure that New York State can maximize its renewable energy output while maintaining compliance with noise regulations.   PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New bill.   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: To be determined.   EFFECTIVE DATE: This act would take effect immediately.
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A08541 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          8541
 
                               2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                      May 20, 2025
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced by M. of A. STIRPE -- read once and referred to the Committee
          on Energy
 
        AN ACT directing the department of public service, New York state energy
          research  and  development  authority,  and the power authority of the
          state of New York to commission a study on the utilization  of  direc-
          tional  noise  reduction  optimization technology for wind turbines in
          New York state
 
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section  1.  The department of public service, in conjunction with the
     2  New York state energy research and development authority, and the  power
     3  authority  of  the  state  of  New  York shall commission a study on the
     4  utilization of directional noise reduction optimization  technology  for
     5  wind turbines in New York state. The study shall evaluate the effective-
     6  ness  of directional noise reduction optimization technology in reducing
     7  noise levels and its impact on energy production as compared with  other
     8  operational methods of reducing wind turbine noise levels.
     9    § 2. Such study shall include:
    10    a.  an  assessment  of  current  operational  noise mitigation methods
    11  implemented across New York State at currently  operating  wind  facili-
    12  ties;
    13    b.  an  assessment  of  the  current  deployment  of directional noise
    14  reduction optimization in wind turbines within New York state and  other
    15  regions with similar conditions, as appropriate;
    16    c.  an analysis of existing peer-reviewed studies on directional noise
    17  reduction optimization and  related  noise  reduction  technologies,  if
    18  available;
    19    d.  an  analysis  of  current directional noise reduction optimization
    20  technology, including existing directional noise reduction  optimization
    21  technologies  and  their effectiveness in different environmental condi-
    22  tions;
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD11566-01-5

        A. 8541                             2
 
     1    e. collaboration with existing wind facilities within New  York  state
     2  to  gather  data on noise levels, turbine operations, and energy output,
     3  at facilities  implementing  directional  noise  reduction  optimization
     4  compared  with  facilities  implementing other noise mitigation methods;
     5  and
     6    f.  a  comparison  of  energy  production of turbines with and without
     7  directional noise reduction optimization  implementation  under  various
     8  operational conditions, including a comparison of energy production with
     9  noise  reduction  techniques that more broadly apply these techniques in
    10  all wind directions.
    11    § 3. Upon completion of the study, the department of  public  service,
    12  in  conjunction  with the New York state energy research and development
    13  authority, and the power authority of the state of New York shall joint-
    14  ly provide recommendations for  the  utilization  of  directional  noise
    15  reduction  optimization  technology  in  the  state and, if appropriate,
    16  suggest statutory or regulatory amendments needed to support  the  inte-
    17  gration  of  directional  noise  reduction  optimization  in the state's
    18  renewable energy strategy.
    19    § 4. The study shall be commissioned within one hundred eighty days of
    20  the effective date of this act and submitted, with  recommendations,  to
    21  the legislature within one year from the date of such commissioning.
    22    § 5. This act shall be effective immediately.
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