New York Proposes Regulations for the Siting of Renewable Energy Projects
Posted on September 25, 2020
In accordance with the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act (the “Act”), on September 16, 2020 the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (“ORES” or the “Office”) promulgated draft regulations and draft uniform standards and conditions (“USC”) establishing an expedited process for reviewing renewable energy projects to replace the Article 10 process (the new “94-c process”). Pursuant to the Act the Office must hold at least four public hearings throughout the state before formally adopting the USC.
Public hearing(s) will be held at:
- 5:00 p.m., Nov. 17, 2020 at Jacqueline Vito LoRusso Alumni & Visitor Center, SUNY Buffalo State, 667 Grant St., Buffalo, NY.
- 5:00 p.m., Nov. 18, 2020 at Rochester City Hall, City Council Chambers, 30 Church St., Rochester, NY.
- 5:00 p.m., Nov. 19, 2020 at Clayton Opera House, 405 Riverside Drive, Clayton, NY.
- 5:00 p.m., Nov. 20, 2020 at McDonough Sports Complex, Hudson Valley Community College, 80 Vandenburgh Ave, Troy, NY.
- 5:00 p.m., Nov. 23, 2020 at Suffolk County Legislature – William H. Rogers Building, Rose Y. Caracappa Auditorium, 725 Veterans Memorial Hwy., Smithtown, NY.
- 5:00 p.m., November 24, 2020 at www.webex.com, Event Number: 173 227 2771, Password: 11.24PSH, Phone Access: 518-549-0500, Access Code: 173 227 2771.
- 5:00 p.m., November 30, 2020 at www.webex.com, Event Number: 173 845 2365, Password: 11.30PSH, Phone Access: 518-549-0500, Access Code: 173 845 2365.
Written comments will be accepted until 5 days after the last public hearing, if the schedule above remains in place that would be December 7, 2020.
Written comments on the regulations are due 60 days after the public notice which is November 16, 2020.
Therefore, we would expect that the regulations will be finalized and adopted sometime in early 2021. The law requires the regulations be adopted within 1 year of enactment of the law, making the “outside” deadline April 3, 2021.
For more information or to discuss the implications of the draft regulations, contact the Firm’s Energy Practice Chair Jim Muscato at jmuscato@youngsommer.com ; 5184389907 x. 243.