Directs a study of the siting processes for wind energy production facilities and provides for a report with recommendations for an overall sitings plan.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8619
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 29, 2009
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ALESSI -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Energy
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to directing the
New York state energy research and development authority to conduct a
study regarding siting processes for wind energy production facilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new
2 section 1854-e to read as follows:
3 § 1854-e. Wind energy production facilities siting. 1. The authority
4 is hereby authorized and directed to conduct a comprehensive study of
5 the potential siting processes required to establish wind energy
6 production facilities. Such study shall include, but not be limited to:
7 (a) an analysis of the siting processes that should be considered for
8 wind energy production facilities;
9 (b) the kinds of environmental impact studies necessary for siting;
10 (c) the visual, audible or atmospheric impacts of wind energy facili-
11 ties that should be considered in the siting process;
12 (d) the impact of the capacity of a wind energy facility in the siting
13 process;
14 (e) which state and local agencies should be involved in the siting
15 process;
16 (f) the information necessary for local agencies charged with making
17 timely and defensible decisions to guide wind energy development,
18 including but not limited to, installation and operating procedures,
19 development of local zoning and land use regulations;
20 (g) the kinds of revenue implications impacting the localities,
21 including but not limited to, property taxes, negotiated voluntary
22 payments in lieu of taxes, and land leases; and
23 (h) the kinds and impact of local community input in the siting proc-
24 ess.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02398-01-9
A. 8619 2
1 2. The authority shall submit a copy of such study to the governor,
2 the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the
3 chairperson of the senate energy and telecommunications committee and
4 the chairperson of the assembly energy committee no later than one year
5 after the effective date of this section.
6 3. Upon completion of the study conducted pursuant to subdivision one
7 of this section, the authority shall develop an overall comprehensive
8 wind energy facilities siting plan. Such plan shall take into account
9 the results and findings of such study, and shall include but not be
10 limited to the following:
11 (a) an outline of guidelines and requirements for siting wind energy
12 production facilities;
13 (b) the research for potential sites for future facilities;
14 (c) an identification of existing plants that should be targeted for
15 efficiency upgrading; and
16 (d) a plan for at least three public hearings to be held in different
17 regions of the state within sixty days of the publication of such plan,
18 and a provision for adequate written testimonial input regarding such
19 plan.
20 4. The authority shall submit a copy of such wind energy production
21 facilities plan to the governor, the temporary president of the senate,
22 the speaker of the assembly, the chairperson of the senate energy and
23 telecommunications committee and the chairperson of the assembly energy
24 committee no later than eighteen months after the effective date of this
25 section.
26 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
