N.Y. ENV Law § 56-0609

§ 56-0609. Clean air for schools projects.\n 1. Of the monies received by the state from the sale of bonds pursuant\nto the Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act of 1996, one hundred twenty-five\nmillion dollars ($125,000,000) shall be available for disbursements for\nclean air for schools projects.\n The power authority is authorized to undertake clean air for schools\nprojects for elementary, middle and secondary schools. The power\nauthority may undertake such projects in cooperation with local gas and\nelectric corporations and/or energy service companies.\n For the purposes of this section, "clean air for schools projects"\nshall mean projects to improve air quality by schools including, but not\nlimited to, projects that replace coal-fired furnaces and heating\nsystems with furnaces and systems fired by oil or gas.\n 2. Any school district may make an application to the power authority\nfor state assistance payments from funds made available under this\narticle toward the costs of clean air for schools projects.\n a. The power authority shall review such applications and may approve,\ndeny, or recommend modifications thereto, consistent with applicable law\nand consistent with criteria, standards, or rules and regulations, as\nthe power authority may establish, relative to such projects. In the\nevent that an application is denied, the power authority shall provide,\nin writing, reasons for the denial to the applicant.\n b. In reviewing such applications, the power authority shall give due\nconsideration to the following criteria:\n (i) the extent to which the project provides the greatest improvement\nin air quality both within the school and in the surrounding\nneighborhood;\n (ii) the age of the system being replaced; and\n (iii) the potential for energy cost savings from efficiency\nimprovements.\n c. Upon approval of an application, the power authority may enter into\na contract with the school district to undertake a clean air for schools\nproject.\n 3. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the\ncomptroller is authorized and directed to release monies constituting\nstate assistance payments, in amounts set forth in a schedule approved\nby the director of the budget, to the power authority for the purposes\nauthorized by this section. Any monies constituting state assistance\npayments made available to the power authority for the purposes\nspecified by this section shall not be subject to the requirements of\nsection one thousand thirteen of the public authorities law.\n