Upstate New York will see new wind and solar projects being built in record time thanks to a new provision in the budget.
The state’s new spending plan fast-tracks the way renewable energy is sited, something Anne Reynolds, executive director of the Alliance for Clean Energy, says has been needed since last year's passage of climate legislation.
From ACE-NY's press release:
“The improved siting process for renewable energy projects will help New York to achieve 70 percent renewable electricity by 2030, as required by NY’s 2019 climate law, and maintain New York’s strong environmental and public participation standards.”
But Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay argues that the new legislation erodes local control. Barclay told Capital Tonight it’s ironic that the budget fast-tracks renewable energy projects because “everything else is slow in New York state.”
“The one thing that Upstaters don’t really want is renewable energy whether it’s windmills or solar panels. And for some reason we make that siting the easiest thing to do,” says Barclay. “It takes local control away which is why I’m upset about it.”
Reynolds disagrees, arguing that local government will receive intervenor funds and will be able to participate in the siting process.
“The only thing that’s different is the timeframe which is shorter,” she explained.
The bill also:
- Creates a new NYSERDA program to identify sites that can be made “build-ready” for renewable development;
- Creates an Endangered Species Mitigation Bank Fund to support conservation projects;
- Directs the state to complete a study of the grid and open proceedings at the PSC on capital investments in the grid;
- Authorizes NYPA to pursue transmission projects that are deemed high priority;
- Adds deadlines to the permitting process for transmission, which will include onshore transmission needed for offshore wind development.
There are currently more than 60 wind and solar projects that can begin construction after environmental review and permitting.
The legislation, which creates an Office of Renewable Energy Permitting, goes into effect immediately.