New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo says he is advancing a 30-day budget amendment to speed up the permitting and construction of renewable energy projects, combat climate change and grow the state’s green economy.
If adopted, the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act will create a new Office of Renewable Energy Permitting to improve and streamline the process for environmentally responsible and cost-effective siting of large-scale renewable energy projects across New York while delivering significant benefits to local communities.
The proposed amendment will accelerate progress toward Cuomo’s clean energy and climate goals – including the mandate to obtain 70% of the state’s electricity from renewable sources – as identified under the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
“Climate change is the existential challenge of our time, and New York State has risen to the occasion by enacting the strongest laws in the nation to protect and preserve our environment,” says Cuomo.
“This legislation will help achieve a more sustainable future, invigorating the green economy and reaffirming New York’s position as a market leader with a revamped process for building and delivering renewable energy projects faster,” he adds.
This legislation seeks to create a new siting process specifically designed for renewable energy facilities. The state’s existing energy generation siting process was designed for permitting fossil-fuel electric generating plants and created prior to the current clean energy and environmental goals under the CLCPA. This new siting process will create modernized standards for developing renewable energy projects at an expedited pace.
The new structure centralizes renewable energy siting and permitting activities within the Department of Economic Development. The structure also creates a new program through which the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority will collaborate with the Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Public Service to develop build-ready sites for renewable energy projects.
To read the full news release of Cuomo’s proposed amendment, click here.
Photo: Governor Cuomo and his team advance New York’s clean energy targets
