Albany - Assembly Energy Committee Chair Kevin Cahill (D-Ulster, Dutchess) announced the passage of a measure that could save businesses, not for profits, local governments and schools money on utility bills, create jobs and boost the use of renewable energy. The legislation (A7557-A) amends the current "net metering" law by removing arbitrary limits to the size of solar and wind systems that can be installed by non-residential customers. This fix opens up further opportunities for New Yorkers to take advantage of solar and wind power to lower costs and sell their excess clean energy back to their utility.

"The race to develop and deploy clean energy solutions is going to define the 21st Century global economy. By making solar and wind systems a cost effective solution for businesses and not for profits, net metering plays an important role in our efforts to grow a new energy economy right here in New York," said Assemblymember Cahill. "With this amendment, New York will have one of the most expansive programs in the country."

Without this change, New York State and its businesses, non-profits, municipalities, schools and other commercial entities would be unable to realize the intent of the state's net metering laws. The legislation is the product of negotiations between the Assembly, the Senate and the Governor. Once the Senate passes the bill and the Governor signs it into law, non-residential customers will be able to install renewable energy systems as large as two megawatts.

Net metering is a simple, fair, low-cost and easily administered mechanism available to utility customers in nearly every state. On-site renewable power generation reduces stress on the electric grid and allows consumers to hedge against volatile energy costs; it also provides other valuable benefits.

"This will put New York at the head of the class. Net metering is boosting our renewable energy industry and creating family wage jobs for installing and maintaining these systems," said Assemblymember Cahill. "As a state, we are embracing the many environmental, public health, economic development and energy security benefits of increased on-site generation."

Assemblymember Cahill's legislation was supported by a large coalition of businesses and environmental organizations.

"In these difficult times, it is fantastic to see positive 'green legislation' moving forward. I commend Assemblymember Cahill, Speaker Silver and their colleagues for their efforts to create good jobs and to protect the environment," said Ron Kamen, New York State Solar Energy Industry Association.

"Net metering is critical to making solar power financially viable for small businesses and municipal governments in the state, and growing employment in green jobs," said Jeff Irish, President of Hudson Valley Clean Energy. "Current utility tariffs have discouraged many small non-residential customers from investing in solar electric systems, and we have numerous installations that will only go forward this year if this bill becomes law. I'm grateful for Assemblyman Kevin Cahill's steadfast support of the emerging solar industry, and I'm hopeful the Senate will continue to move the bill forward and ensure New York's net metering law is changed as soon as possible."

"The Assembly's passage of the net metering fix is an important step forward in ensuring that New York's expanded net metering laws will function as intended," said Carol E. Murphy, Executive Director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York (ACE NY). "We commend Assemblyman Cahill's leadership on this issue and his ongoing support of New York's clean energy industry. If we are to meet any of our emissions and efficiency goals in the future, New York will need to utilize every opportunity it has to encourage greater use of renewable resources. Commercial net metering is just one way to do so, and we look forward to this bill's passage in the Senate so that the many businesses, farmers, and schools throughout the state who are eager to install on-site solar and wind energy systems will finally be able to do so."