What's happening
This bill requires local building and planning regulations to accommodate a wider range of renewable and alternative energy systems beyond just solar.
Why it matters
Broadens Local Energy Options. By requiring local regulations to accommodate a variety of renewable and alternative energy sources—not just solar—this bill makes it easier for homeowners, businesses, and farms to pursue systems like wind, geothermal, tidal, and fuel cells, depending on what works best for their property.
Promotes Technological Flexibility. The inclusion of emerging and less common technologies (e.g., wave energy, ocean thermal, farm waste electric, geothermal ground source heat) ensures that local rules won’t become outdated as new clean energy solutions become available, fostering innovation.
Reduces Barriers to Clean Energy Adoption. Expanding legal accommodation from just solar to a wider range of renewables limits the ability of local governments to exclude or over-restrict alternative energy systems, potentially speeding up the transition to cleaner energy sources across New York communities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Cities Allow Renewables
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
10 Co-sponsors
3 Multi-sponsors
History
- Amended on third reading 34b
- Amended on third reading 34a
- Ordered to third reading cal.4
- Advanced to third reading cal.252
- Reported
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Referred to local governments
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Allow More Renewable Energy
In Senate Committee · Local Government · Sponsor Joseph A. Griffo
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
34--B Cal. No. 4
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 4, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, GALEF, SCHIMMINGER, MAGNARELLI, JAFFEE, LUPARDO, ENGLEBRIGHT, M. G. MILLER, OTIS, GOTTFRIED, THIELE -- Multi- Sponsored by -- M. of A. CAHILL, COLTON, PERRY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments -- ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading -- again amended on third reading, ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the town law and the village law, in relation to requiring local building and planning regulations to accommodate the use of certain renewable and alternative energy sources
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 263 of the town law, as amended by chapter 602 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:
§ 263. Purposes in view. Such regulations shall be made in accordance with a comprehensive plan and designed to lessen congestion in the streets; to secure safety from fire, flood, panic and other dangers; to promote health and general welfare; to provide adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding of land; to avoid undue concentration of population; to make provision for, so far as conditions may permit, the accommodation of [solar energy systems and equipment and access to sunlight necessary therefor] solar thermal, photovoltaics, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal electric, geothermal ground source heat, tidal energy, wave energy, ocean thermal, farm waste electric generating equipment as defined in paragraph (e) of subdivision one of section sixty-six-j of the public service law, and fuel cells; to facilitate the practice of forestry; to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements. Such regulations shall be made with reasonable consideration, among other things, as to the character of the district and its peculiar suit-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01060-04-8
A. 34--B 2
ability for particular uses, and with a view to conserving the value of buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout such municipality.
§ 2. Section 7-704 of the village law, as amended by chapter 742 of the laws of 1979, is amended to read as follows:
§ 7-704 Purposes in view. Such regulations shall be made in accordance with a comprehensive plan and designed to lessen congestion in the streets; to secure safety from fire, panic, floods and other dangers; to promote health and the general welfare; to provide adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding of land; to avoid undue concentration of population; to make provision for, so far as conditions may permit, the accommodation of [solar energy systems and equipment and access to sunlight necessary therefor] solar thermal, photovoltaics, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal electric, geothermal ground source heat, tidal energy, wave energy, ocean thermal, farm waste electric generating equipment as defined in paragraph (e) of subdivision one of section sixty-six-j of the public service law and fuel cells; to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements. Such regulations shall be made with reasonable consideration, among other things, as to the character of the district and its peculiar suitability for particular uses, and with a view to conserving the value of buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout such municipality.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.