1005 - Powers and Duties of Authority.

NY Pub Auth L § 1005 (2019) (N/A)
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(a) Criteria for eligibility for expansion, replacement and preservation power. Each application for an allocation for expansion, replacement or preservation power shall be evaluated by the trustees under criteria which shall include but need not be limited to:

(1) the number of jobs created as a result of a power allocation;

(2) the business' long term commitment to the region as evidenced by the current and/or planned capital investment in business' facilities in the region;

(3) the ratio of the number of jobs to be created to the amount of power requested;

(4) the types of jobs created, as measured by wage and benefit levels, security and stability of employment;

(5) the amount of capital investment, including the type and cost of buildings, equipment and facilities to be constructed, enlarged or installed;

(6) the extent to which a power allocation will affect the overall productivity or competitiveness of the business and its existing employment;

(7) the extent to which an allocation of power may result in a competitive disadvantage for other business in the state;

(8) the growth potential of the business facility and the contribution of economic strength to the area in which the business facility is or would be located;

(9) the extent of the business' willingness to make jobs available to persons defined as eligible for services under the federal job training partnership act of nineteen hundred eighty-two and the extent of the business' willingness to satisfy affirmative action goals;

(10) the extent to which an allocation of power is consistent with state, regional and local economic development strategies and priorities and supported by local units of government in the area in which the business is located; and

(11) the impact of the allocation on the operation of any other facilities of the business, on other businesses within the region, and upon other electric ratepayers.

(b) Revitalization. In addition to the criteria provided in paragraph (a) of this subdivision the trustees shall establish special criteria for the evaluation of applications for power allocated for the revitalization of industry. Such criteria shall include, but need not be limited to:

(1) that the business is likely to close, partially close or relocate resulting in the loss of a substantial number of jobs;

(2) that the business is an important employer in the community and efforts to revitalize the business are in long-term interests of both employers and the community;

(3) that a reasonable prospect exists that the proposed allocation of power will enable the business to remain competitive and become profitable and preserve jobs for a substantial period of time;

(4) that the applicant demonstrates cooperation with the local electricity distributor and other available sources of assistance to reduce energy costs to the maximum extent practicable, through conservation and load management; and

(5) that the allocation will not unduly affect the cost of electric service to customers of the local electricity distributor. 13-a. Recharge New York power program. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, but subject to the terms and conditions of federal energy regulatory commission licenses, to allocate, reallocate or extend, directly or by sale for resale, up to nine hundred ten megawatts of recharge New York power to eligible applicants located within the state of New York upon the recommendation of the New York state economic development power allocation board pursuant to section one hundred eighty-eight-a of the economic development law.

(b) Recharge New York power shall mean and consist of equal amounts of (1) four hundred fifty-five megawatts of firm hydroelectric power from the Niagara and Saint Lawrence hydroelectric projects to be withdrawn, as of the earliest date such power may be withdrawn consistent with contractual requirements, from utility corporations that, prior to the effective date of this subdivision, purchased such power for the benefit of their domestic and rural consumers ("recharge New York hydropower"), and (2) power procured by the authority through market sources, a competitive procurement process, or authority sources (other than the Niagara and Saint Lawrence projects) (collectively or individually, "recharge New York market power"); provided, however, that if such recharge New York market power comes from authority sources, the use of that power shall not reduce the availability of, or cause an increase in the price of, power provided by the authority for any other program authorized in this article or pursuant to any other statute.

(c) Notwithstanding section one thousand nine of this title or any other provision of law to the contrary, the authority is authorized, beginning July first, two thousand twelve, to make available, contract with and sell to such eligible applicants as are recommended by the economic development power allocation board up to nine hundred ten megawatts of recharge New York power for recharge New York power allocations. A recharge New York power allocation shall consist of equal parts of recharge New York hydropower and recharge New York market power as such terms are defined in paragraph (b) of this subdivision; provided, however, that prior to entering into a contract with an eligible applicant for the sale of recharge New York power, and prior to the provision of electric service relating to the recharge New York power allocation, the authority shall offer each eligible applicant the option to decline to purchase the recharge New York market power component of such allocation. If an eligible applicant declines to purchase such market power from the authority, the authority shall have no responsibility for supplying such market power to the eligible applicant. 13-b. Residential consumer discount programs. (a) Residential consumer electricity cost discount. Notwithstanding any provision of this title or article six of the economic development law to the contrary, the authority is authorized, as deemed feasible and advisable by the trustees, to use revenues from the sale of hydroelectric power, and such other funds of the authority as deemed feasible and advisable by the trustees, to fund monthly payments to be made for the benefit of such classes of electricity consumers as enjoyed the benefits of authority hydroelectric power withdrawn pursuant to subdivision thirteen-a of this section, for the purpose of mitigating price impacts associated with the reallocation of such power in the manner described in this subdivision. Such monthly payments shall commence after such hydroelectric power is withdrawn. The total annual amount of monthly payments for each of the three twelve month periods following withdrawal of such hyrdoelectric power shall be one hundred million dollars. The total annual amount of monthly payments for each of the two subsequent twelve month periods shall be seventy million dollars and fifty million dollars, respectively. Thereafter, the total annual amount of monthly payments for each twelve month period shall be thirty million dollars. The total amount of monthly payments shall be apportioned by the authority among the utility corporations that, prior to the effective date of this subdivision, purchased such hydroelectric power for the benefit of their domestic and rural consumers according to the relative amounts of such power purchased by such corporations. The monthly payments shall be credited to the electricity bills of such corporations' domestic and rural consumers in a manner to be determined by the public service commission of the state of New York. The monthly credit provided by any such corporation to any one consumer shall not exceed the total monthly electric utility cost incurred by such consumer.

(b) Agricultural consumer electricity cost discount. (1) Beginning with the second twelve month period after such hydroelectric power is withdrawn, up to eight million dollars of the residential consumer electricity cost discount established by paragraph (a) of this subdivision shall be dedicated for monthly payments to agricultural producers who receive electric service at the residential rate. The total amount of monthly payments shall be apportioned by the authority among the utility corporations in the same manner as they are apportioned in paragraph (a) of this subdivision. Monthly payments shall be credited to the electricity bills of such corporations' agricultural consumers in a manner to be determined by the public service commission of the state of New York. The combined monthly credit, under this paragraph and paragraph (a) of this subdivision, provided by any such corporation to any one consumer shall not exceed the total monthly electric utility cost incurred by such consumer.

(2) The authority shall work cooperatively with the department of public service to evaluate the agricultural consumer electricity cost discount, which shall include an assessment of the benefits to recipients compared to the benefits the recipients received from the authority's hydroelectric power, withdrawn pursuant to subdivision thirteen-a of this section, during the twelve month period ending December thirty-first, two thousand ten, and compared to other agricultural consumers that did not choose to receive the discount.

(c) Energy efficiency program. (1) Beginning with the withdrawal of such hydroelectric power, the authority or the New York state energy research and development authority, shall conduct an energy efficiency program for five years to provide energy efficiency improvements for the purpose of reducing energy consumption for domestic and rural consumers. Such energy efficiency program may be undertaken in cooperation with other energy efficiency programs offered by utility corporations, state agencies and authorities including but not limited to the New York state energy research and development authority; provided however that energy savings attributable to such other energy efficiency programs shall not be included in determining the amount of energy saved pursuant to the program established by this paragraph;

(2) The authority or the New York state energy research and development authority shall annually post on their website a report evaluating the energy efficiency program, including but not limited to, the number of domestic and rural consumers who opted to participate in the program and, if practicable, the estimated savings the domestic and rural consumers received by participating in the energy efficiency program. 14. To provide to the governor, to the speaker of the assembly, and to the temporary president of the senate, on or before April first of each year, an economic development report including projections for the next succeeding twelve months of the amount of economic development power which will be or is expected to be available with a listing of the current recipients of that power, and data on the number and types of jobs resulting from allocation of economic development power. Such report shall also include the amount of revenues collected and used in the previous calendar year pursuant to the eighth unnumbered paragraph of this section. 15. To provide low cost electricity, as well as energy efficiency and conservation services and facilities using conventional or new energy technologies, to the following military establishments within the state: Fort Drum, Fort Hamilton, United States Academy at West Point, Watervliet Arsenal, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Base, Air Force Research Laboratory at Rome, Defense Finance Accounting Services at the former Rome Air Force Base, North East Air Defense Sector, Stewart Air National Guard Base, Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, Stratton Air National Guard Base and Air National Guard Base at Francis S. Gabreski Airport. Services provided pursuant to this section shall be provided only to support United States Department of Defense activities as they are conducted at such facilities. The authority may enter into contracts with the United States, its agencies and instrumentalities, and other public and private entities to effectuate the foregoing. 16. To complete a biennial energy plan in accordance with the provisions of article six of the energy law. In addition to any requirements of article six of the energy law, the authority shall provide copies of its biennial energy plan to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the chair of the assembly committee on energy and the chair of the senate committee on energy and telecommunications. Further, the authority shall cooperate and participate in the state energy planning procedures as enumerated in article six of the energy law. 17. (a) As deemed feasible and advisable by the trustees, to finance and design, develop, construct, implement, provide and administer energy-related projects, programs and services for any public entity, any independent not-for-profit institution of higher education within the state, and any recipient of the economic development power, expansion power, replacement power, preservation power, high load factor power, municipal distribution agency power, power for jobs, and recharge New York power programs administered by the authority. In establishing and providing high performance and sustainable building programs and services authorized by this subdivision, the authority is authorized to consult standards, guidelines, rating systems, and/or criteria established or adopted by other organizations, including but not limited to the United States green building council under its leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED) programs, the green building initiative's green globes rating system, and the American National Standards Institute. The source of any financing and/or loans provided by the authority for the purposes of this subdivision may be the proceeds of notes issued pursuant to section one thousand nine-a of this title, the proceeds of bonds issued pursuant to section one thousand ten of this title, or any other available authority funds.

(b) For the purposes of this subdivision, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings unless the context indicates another meaning or intent:

(1) "Agency" means any agency, department, or office of the state of New York.

(2) "Energy-related projects, programs and services" means energy efficiency projects and services, clean energy technology projects and services, and high performance and sustainable building programs and services, and the construction, installation and/or operation of facilities or equipment done in connection with any such projects, programs or services.

(3) "Energy services contract" or "contract" means a contract pursuant to which the authority provides energy-related projects, programs and services.

(4) "High performance and sustainable building programs and services" means programs and services related to the renovation and retrofitting of buildings through the incorporation of standards, guidelines, rating systems, and/or criteria relating to design and building techniques established by the authority pursuant to this section, which are addressed to such issues as energy efficiency, energy conservation, the use of renewable energy, the reduction of air and other pollution, and the conservation of materials and resources such as water.

(5) "Public entity" means an agency, public authority, public benefit corporation, public corporation, municipal corporation, school district, board of cooperative educational services, public university, fire district, district corporation, or special improvement district governed by a separate board of commissioners.

(6) "Public authority" means a public authority formed by or under the laws of the state of New York to the extent its facilities are located within the state, and the port authority of New York and New Jersey to the extent that its facilities are located within the state.

(7) "Public benefit corporation" means a public benefit corporation as defined in subdivision four of section sixty-six of the general construction law.

(8) "Public university" means the city university of New York including any senior college or community college as defined in section sixty-two hundred two of the education law, and the state university of New York including four-year colleges established pursuant to section sixty-three hundred seven of the education law and community colleges as defined in section sixty-three hundred one of the education law.

(c) Any public entity is authorized to enter into an energy services contract with the authority for energy-related projects, programs and services that are authorized by this subdivision, provided that (i) the authority issues and advertises written requests for proposals from third party providers of goods and services in accordance with the authority's procurement policies, procedures and/or guidelines, and (ii) the authority shall not contract with a third party provider of goods and services if such person is listed on a debarment list maintained and published in accordance with New York law, as being ineligible to submit a bid on or be awarded any public contract or subcontract with the state, any municipal corporation or public body.

(d)(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any energy services contract entered into by the authority with any public entity: (1) may have a term of up to thirty-five years duration, provided, however, that the duration of any such contract shall not exceed the reasonably expected useful life of any facilities or equipment constructed, installed or operated as part of such energy-related projects, programs and services subject to such contract; and (2) shall contain the following clause: "This contract shall be deemed executory only to the extent of the monies appropriated and available for the purpose of the contract, and no liability on account therefor shall be incurred beyond the amount of such monies. It is understood that neither this contract nor any representation by any public employee or officer creates any legal or moral obligation to request, appropriate or make available monies for the purpose of the contract." A school district or board of cooperative educational services may only enter into an energy services contract with the authority for such maximum term as is prescribed in the regulations promulgated by the commissioner of education or the useful life of the facilities or equipment being constructed, installed or operated, whichever is less.

(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, in order to provide an interest in real or other property necessary for the construction of facilities or the operation of equipment provided for in an energy services contract, a public entity may enter into a lease or other agreement with the authority concerning real or other property to which it holds title or which is under its administrative jurisdiction, as is necessary for such construction or operation, for the same length of time as the term of the energy services contract and on such terms and conditions as may be agreeable to the parties thereto and are not otherwise inconsistent with law, and notwithstanding that such real or other property may remain useful to such entity for the purpose for which such real or other property was originally acquired or devoted or for which such real or other property is being used.

(e) Nothing contained in this subdivision is intended to limit, impair or affect the authority's legal authority to provide energy efficiency and energy services programs that existed as of the effective date of this subdivision.

(f) The authority shall complete and submit a report, on or before January thirty-first, two thousand twelve, on those activities undertaken pursuant to this subdivision to the governor, the speaker of the assembly, the temporary president of the senate, the minority leader of the senate, the minority leader of the assembly, the chair of the senate finance committee, the chair of the assembly ways and means committee, the chair of the assembly energy committee and the chair of the senate energy committee. 18. For the purpose of furnishing the state with systematic information regarding the status and the activities of the authority, the authority shall submit to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, speaker of the assembly, the minority leader of the senate and the minority leader of the assembly, within ninety days after the end of its fiscal year, a complete and detailed annual report on each economic development power program it administers. Such annual report shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: a. the number of recipients of economic power program benefits, the economic region in which each recipient is located, the type and amount of assistance provided, megawatts of power awarded, length of current contract, current contract compliance status, last audit, number of jobs retained and/or added in the fiscal year, approximate energy efficiency savings and amount of power reallocated from previous years due to forfeited benefits; and b. cost to the authority to provide economic development power programs during the previous fiscal year. 19. To cooperate with the western New York power proceeds allocation board and provide the board with such information and assistance as the board reasonably requests, including reasonable staff services, accounting, clerical and secretarial assistance, office space, and equipment reasonably requested by the western New York power proceeds allocation board to fulfill its duties. 20. To establish an account to be known as the western New York economic development fund, which shall consist of "net earnings" as defined in article six-a of the economic development law, deposited in such amounts as determined to be feasible and advisable by the trustees. Such earnings shall be deposited no less frequently than quarterly. The first deposit into the fund shall be made ninety days after the effective date of this subdivision, and shall include all such net earnings accrued since the effective date of chapter four hundred thirty-six of the laws of two thousand ten. At least fifteen percent of such funds shall be dedicated towards eligible projects which are energy-related projects, programs and services as such term is defined in subparagraph two of paragraph (b) of subdivision seventeen of this section. In addition to funding eligible projects, as defined in article six-a of the economic development law, the authority may use western New York economic development fund monies to cover reasonable costs and expenses of the authority related to the management and administration of the western New York power proceeds allocation program created by article six-a of the economic development law. 21. The authority may, in its discretion, consult with the western New York power proceeds allocation board in the application process relating to the allocation of expansion power and replacement power. 22. The authority shall establish processes for application review and allocation of fund benefits provided for in article six-a of the economic development law. 23. The authority shall include in the annual report prepared pursuant to subdivision eighteen of this section, an accounting for the subject year that provides (a) the amount of expansion power and replacement power sold into the wholesale market by the authority, and (b) the net earnings, as such term is defined in section one hundred eighty-nine-a of the economic development law, paid into the western New York economic development fund. 24. (a) For purposes of this subdivision, the terms "authority-TMED contract", "eligible project", "net earnings", "northern New York power proceeds allocation board" and "St. Lawrence county economic development power" shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in article seven-A of the economic development law.

(b) The authority shall be authorized to cooperate with the northern New York power proceeds allocation board, and provide such board with such information and assistance, including reasonable staff services, accounting, clerical and secretarial assistance, office space, and equipment, as the board reasonably requests in order to fulfill its duties under article seven-A of the economic development law.

(c) The authority shall establish an account to be known as the northern New York economic development fund, which shall consist solely of net earnings. The authority, as determined to be feasible and advisable by the trustees, shall deposit net earnings into the fund no less than quarterly, provided, however, that the amount of St. Lawrence county economic development power that may be used by the authority to generate net earnings shall not exceed the lesser of twenty megawatts or the amount of St. Lawrence county economic development power that has not been allocated by the authority under the authority-TMED contract for sub-allocations, and provided further that beginning five years from the effective date of this subdivision, the amount of St. Lawrence county economic development power that may be used by the authority to generate net earnings shall not exceed the lesser of ten megawatts or the amount of St. Lawrence county economic development power that has not been allocated by the authority under the authority-TMED contract for sub-allocations. At least fifteen percent of net earnings paid into the fund shall be dedicated to eligible projects which are energy-related projects, programs and services as such term is defined in subparagraph two of paragraph (b) of subdivision seventeen of this section. In addition to funding eligible projects, the authority may use northern New York economic development fund monies to cover reasonable costs and expenses of the authority related to the management and administration of the northern New York power proceeds allocation program created by article seven-A of the economic development law.

(d) The authority is hereby authorized to establish processes for application review and allocation of fund benefits, and to promulgate such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to fulfill the purposes of this subdivision and the duties assigned to it under article seven-A of the economic development law.

(e) The authority shall include in the annual report prepared pursuant to subdivision eighteen of this section, an accounting for the subject year that provides the amount of St. Lawrence county economic development power sold into the wholesale market by the authority, and the net earnings paid into the northern New York economic development fund. 25. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, to accept gifts, grants, loans, or contributions of funds or property in any form from the federal government or any agency or instrumentally thereof or from the state or any other source (collectively, "resources"), and enter into contracts or other transactions regarding such resources, and to use such resources for any of its corporate purposes. 26. (a) As deemed feasible and advisable by the trustees, to plan, finance, construct, acquire, operate, improve and maintain, either alone or jointly with one or more other entities, transmission facilities for the purpose of transmitting power and energy generated by renewable wind energy generation projects that are located in state territorial waters, and/or in waters under the jurisdiction or regulation of the United States, which supplies electric power and energy to the state of New York that the authority deems necessary and desirable in order to: (i) provide, support and maintain an adequate and reliable supply of electric power and energy in the state of New York, and/or (ii) assist the state in meeting state energy-related goals and standards.

(b) The source of any financing and/or loans provided by the authority for any of the actions authorized in paragraph (a) of this subdivision may be the proceeds of notes issued pursuant to section one thousand nine-a of this title, the proceeds of bonds issued pursuant to section one thousand ten of this title, or any other available authority funds.

(c) The authority shall complete and submit a report, on or before January thirty-first, two thousand twenty, and annually thereafter, on those activities undertaken pursuant to this subdivision to the governor, the speaker of the assembly, the temporary president of the senate, the minority leader of the senate, the minority leader of the assembly, the chair of the senate finance committee, the chair of the assembly ways and means committee, the chair of the assembly energy committee, and the chair of the senate energy and telecommunications committee. Such report shall be posted on the authority's website and accessible for public review. * 27. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, as deemed feasible and advisable by the trustees, the authority is authorized to undertake the following actions when it deems it necessary or desirable to address the energy-related needs of any (i) authority customer, (ii) public entity, or (iii) CCA community:

(1) (A) supply power and energy procured from competitive market sources to any (i) authority customer, (ii) public entity, or (iii) CCA community through the supply of such products through an energy services company or other entity that is authorized by the public service commission to procure and sell energy products to participants of a CCA program, provided, however, that the authority shall not supply at any point more than a total of four hundred megawatts of power and energy to authority customers and public entities pursuant to the authority of this clause;

(B) supply renewable power, energy, or related credits or attributes procured through a competitive process, from competitive market sources, or through negotiation when a competitive procurement is not reasonably feasible and such products can be procured on reasonably competitive terms to (i) any authority customer, (ii) any public entity, or (iii) any CCA community through the supply of such products through an energy services company or other entity that is authorized by the public service commission to procure and sell energy products to participants of a CCA program; and

(2) (A) alone or jointly with one or more other entities, finance the development of renewable energy generating projects that are located in the state, including its territorial waters, and/or on property or in waters under the jurisdiction or regulatory authority of the United States, (B) purchase power, energy or related credits or attributes produced from such renewable energy generating projects, and (C) allocate and sell any such products to (i) any authority customer, (ii) any public entity, and (iii) any CCA community through an energy services company or other entity that is authorized by the public service commission to procure and sell energy products to participants of a CCA program, provided that the authority shall not, pursuant to the authority in this subparagraph, finance more than six renewable energy generation projects and have a per-project electric generating capacity in excess of twenty-five megawatts.

(b) Nothing in this subdivision authorizes the authority to act as an energy supply company or administrator for CCA programs.

(c) Power and energy sold pursuant to the authority provided in paragraph (a) of this subdivision shall only be sold for use at facilities located in the state.

(d) Any public entity is hereby authorized to contract with the authority for the purchase of power, energy, or related credits or attributes which the authority is authorized to supply under paragraph (a) of this subdivision.

(e) The source of any financing and/or loans provided by the authority for any of the actions authorized in paragraph (a) of this subdivision may be the proceeds of notes issued pursuant to section one thousand nine-a of this title, the proceeds of bonds issued pursuant to section one thousand ten of this title, or any other available authority funds.

(f) The authority shall complete and submit a report, on or before January thirty-first, two thousand twenty, and annually thereafter on those actions undertaken pursuant to this subdivision to the governor, the speaker of the assembly, the temporary president of the senate, the chair of the assembly ways and means committee, the chair of the senate finance committee, the chair of the assembly energy committee and the chair of the senate energy and telecommunications committee. Such report, at a minimum, shall include: (i) an accounting of the total amount of power, energy, and related credits and attributes procured from competitive market sources and supplied to authority customers, public entities, and CCA communities; (ii) an accounting of the total amount of renewable power, energy, and related credits and attributes procured through negotiation and supplied to authority customers, public entities, and CCA communities; (iii) a description of all renewable energy generating projects financed by the authority, including the aggregate amount of financing; (iv) an accounting of all power, energy, and related credits and attributes purchased by the authority from such projects; and (v) an identification of all public entities, authority customers, and CCA communities to which the authority supplied, allocated or sold any power, energy or related credits or attributes.

(g) For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated in this paragraph unless the context indicates another meaning or intent:

(i) "Authority customer" means an entity located in the state to which the authority sells or is under contract to sell power or energy under the authority in this title or any other law.

(ii) "CCA community" means one or more municipal corporations located within the state that have provided for the purchase of power, energy, or related credits or other attributes under a CCA program.

(iii) "CCA program" means a community choice aggregation program approved by the public service commission.

(iv) "Public entity" has the meaning ascribed to that term by subparagraph five of paragraph (b) of subdivision seventeen of this section.

(v) "Renewable energy resources" means solar power, wind power, hydroelectric, and any other generation resource authorized by any renewable energy standard adopted by the state for the purpose of implementing any state clean energy standard.

(vi) "Renewable energy generating project" means a project that generates power and energy by means of renewable energy resources, or that stores and supplies power and energy generated by means of renewable energy resources, and includes the construction, installation and/or operation of ancillary facilities or equipment done in connection with any such renewable energy generating projects, provided, however, that such term shall not include the authority's Saint Lawrence hydroelectric project or Niagara hydroelectric project.

(vii) "State" means the state of New York. * NB Repealed June 30, 2024 The authority is authorized to allocate up to seventy megawatts of unallocated power from the Niagara project sold prior to the effective date of this paragraph as replacement power, up to thirty-eight and six-tenths megawatts of preservation power from the Saint Lawrence-FDR project which is relinquished or withdrawn after the effective date of this paragraph, and for the period ending on December thirty-first, two thousand six, up to an additional twenty megawatts of power from the Saint Lawrence-FDR project which is unallocated as of the effective date of this paragraph, for sale into the wholesale market, the net earnings from which and such other funds of the authority as deemed feasible and advisable by the trustees, shall be used for energy cost savings benefits. Such energy cost savings benefits shall be made upon recommendation of the economic development power allocation board, pursuant to subdivision (h) of section one hundred eighty-three of the economic development law. For purposes of this paragraph, the term net earnings shall mean any excess of revenues earned from the sale of such power allocated to the wholesale market from the Niagara and Saint Lawrence-FDR projects over the revenues that would have been received had such firm power been allocated and sold on a firm basis by the authority prior to the effective date of this paragraph. The governor shall establish a temporary commission on the future of New York state power programs for economic development as soon as practicable but no later than May first, two thousand six. On or before December first, two thousand six, the commission shall make recommendations to the governor and the legislature on whether to continue, modify, expand or replace the state's economic development power programs, including but not limited to the power for jobs program and the energy cost savings benefit program, and shall recommend legislative language necessary to implement its recommendations. The commission shall consist of eleven members, comprised of five members appointed by the governor, one of whom he or she shall designate as chairperson, two members by the speaker of the assembly, two members by the temporary president of the senate, one member by the minority leader of the assembly and one member by the minority leader of the senate.