New York State Sen. Joseph Griffo and members of the Senate Republican Conference recently sent a letter to the state’s Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES) requesting comprehensive information on wind, solar, battery energy storage and other renewable energy projects “currently under review, pending approval, or anticipated for approval…particularly those with the potential to affect protected lands, environmentally sensitive areas, and regulated agricultural resources across New York State.”
“Let us be clear: this request is not intended to oppose energy development,” the letter reads in part. “New York State must continue to advance innovation and diversify its energy portfolio responsibly. However, these efforts must not come at the expense of the very natural and agricultural resources that our environmental laws are designed to protect, or at the will of the citizens who will live next door to these projects. Ensuring that renewable energy development proceeds in a manner consistent with environmental stewardship, transparency, and public trust is of paramount importance.”
ORES was created under the “Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act” (CLCPA), which was approved by the Democratic majorities in the Legislature in 2019, to oversee the review and approval of renewable energy projects statewide.
In 2024, the governor and legislative majorities enacted a new law known as the “Renewable Action through Project Interconnection and Deployment (RAPID) Act” authorizing ORES to effectively streamline the siting permit review process. The stated goal of the RAPID Act was to “balance transparency with environmental protection and the need for fast decision making, while continuing to be responsive to community feedback.” Late last year, ORES issued revised regulations “for the environmental review, permitting, and siting of major renewable energy facilities and major electric transmission facilities.”
When the RAPID Act was first approved, Senate and Assembly Republicans voiced their opposition that the new, fast-tracked, state-dictated process would overrule local zoning, unreasonably expand eminent domain, jeopardize natural resources and farmland, and undermine local control and the will of residents and communities. Those concerns have been shared by many local leaders and continue to be raised throughout the state, particularly over the loss of prime agricultural land to solar developers.
Sen. Griffo also will reintroduce legislation that would eliminate ORES and return local control to communities.
“I did not support the creation of ORES because it silences local voices and takes away local control,” Sen. Griffo said. “Energy projects have become much more prevalent across the state and could have significant and long-term effects on municipalities in which they are located. Local governments, with input from the residents that they represent, should be the ones making decisions related to these ventures – not unelected bureaucrats in Albany. We must ensure that ORES is operating transparently, is adhering to established environmental standards and is sensitive to local concerns.”
A copy of the letter is attached.
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