N.Y.C. Admin. Code § L.L. 2012/024: L.L. 2012/024

Enactment date: 5/1/2012

Int. No. 534-A

By Council Members Gennaro, Barron, Brewer, Cabrera, Fidler, James, Koppell, Koslowitz, Lander, Palma, Seabrook, Van Bramer, Vann, Williams, Mark-Viverito, Levin, Nelson, Koo, Lappin, Rodriguez, Garodnick, Rivera, Greenfield, Vacca, Vallone, Jackson, Eugene and Halloran

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of environmental protection to undertake an assessment of the electricity generation capability of the city's water supply and wastewater treatment systems and bodies of water within the city's jurisdiction.

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The Council finds that the City of New York has a substantial interest in determining the inherent power generation potential of the City's water systems. The City's water supply system, a wonder of modern-day engineering, relies nearly entirely on gravity to transport water from our upstate reservoirs to the City. This means of delivery has the potential to generate energy in a manner that does not harm water quality or interfere with water distribution. A system that harnesses this water flow may provide the City with emissions-free energy, which would reduce the City's greenhouse gas emissions-as the City is obliged to do under Local Law No. 22 for the year 2008, the New York City Climate Protection Act. Power generated by our water supply system would not require costly and environmentally-damaging dams to be constructed; instead, it may be possible, subject to operational and economic considerations, to take advantage of existing infrastructure by utilizing hydropower technologies to capture energy and potentially achieve cost savings.

Accordingly, the Council finds that it is in the best interests of the City to study the potential to generate clean energy using hydropower from our water supply and wastewater treatment infrastructure systems, as well as the bodies of water within the City's jurisdiction.

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[Consolidated provisions are not included in this Appendix A]

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§ 3. This local law shall take effect immediately.