New York Assembly Bill A04804

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/25
• Refer: 2/6/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Requires the office of renewable energy siting to develop standards and conditions for the siting of certain large scale renewable energy systems; requires approval of municipalities to such siting plans.

Summary

This bill would amend the Public Service Law to direct the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) to adopt uniform standards and conditions for large-scale renewable energy facilities that are designed to avoid, minimize, or mitigate significant adverse impacts to land in the Hudson River watershed area to the maximum extent practicable. In applying those standards, ORES would have to give additional consideration to land in agricultural or conservation districts and to land containing mineral soil groups 1 through 4, which are generally associated with higher-quality farmland. The bill also changes the siting process for qualified energy storage systems by prohibiting ORES and the Department of Public Service from deeming a site suitable without first consulting the municipality with jurisdiction over the proposed build-ready site and obtaining municipal approval. The measure applies prospectively and does not affect applications already completed before the amended standards are adopted.

Impact

The bill would add new siting constraints to article 8 of the Public Service Law, narrowing ORES discretion in evaluating certain renewable energy and energy storage projects. It would create a specific land-use protection standard for the Hudson River watershed and elevate local government approval as a prerequisite for siting qualified energy storage systems. These changes would affect renewable energy developers, landowners, municipalities, and state siting regulators, especially in areas with agricultural, conservation, or environmentally sensitive lands.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests the bill has generated mixed but not overwhelming support in committee. On May 28, 2025, the Assembly Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee held the bill for consideration by a 17-8 vote, indicating substantial interest but also notable opposition or concern. No transcript excerpts were provided, so the discussion record does not reveal detailed arguments, but the vote pattern suggests the bill is viewed as significant and potentially controversial.

Contention

The main points of contention are likely the balance between state-level renewable energy siting authority and local control, and the extent to which environmental and agricultural land protections should constrain project development. Supporters are likely to favor stronger safeguards for the Hudson River watershed, farmland, and conservation lands, while opponents may argue that requiring municipal approval and adding location-specific restrictions could slow or block renewable energy and storage deployment. The bill’s carve-out for already-completed applications also suggests concern about avoiding retroactive disruption to pending projects.