NY A00460

Amends Public Service Law to require the Public Service Commission to establish modifications to existing programs encouraging qualified fuel cell electric generating systems, with determinations due by January 1, 2018.

Requires minimum annual expenditures of $50 million from calendar year 2018 through 2028 for the Public Service Commission program, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

Defines qualified fuel cell systems as those based on solid oxide, molten carbonate, proton exchange membrane, or phosphoric acid fuel cells manufactured and operated in accordance with government and industry standards.

Mandates program design considerations including geographic diversity, cost-effectiveness, economic benefits to New York State, transmission and distribution system costs, and peak load minimization in constrained areas.

Establishes a parallel fuel cell incentive program requiring minimum annual expenditures of $15 million from 2018 through 2028, applicable to systems installed in the authority's service territory after January 1, 2018.