Communities interested in cleaner energy, as well as greater control over their electric supply and reliability, are increasingly turning to microgrids — miniature power systems that serve an individual facility or area with electricity, either on its own or in concert with a larger power grid. Typically, a microgrid consists of energy generation and energy storage that can power a building or community and can be disconnected from the energy grid.Continue Reading Microgrids: Placing Energy in the Hands of the Consumer
Earlier this year, as part of the New York State budget, the Legislature enacted New York State Real Property Tax Law Section 575-b (RPTL 575-b), which creates new requirements for the real property taxation of wind and solar energy projects that have a nameplate capacity of 1 megawatt (MW) or greater. These new requirements are applicable to projects that are not subject to a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement and, notwithstanding these statutory changes, municipalities will continue to have the flexibility to enter into PILOT agreements with project proponents. Municipalities are likely, however, to look to the new requirements for guidance when negotiating such PILOT agreements.