What's happening
The bill requires local building and planning regulations to accommodate a wide range of renewable and alternative energy sources.
Why it matters
Broader range of renewable energy sources. The bill expands the types of renewable and alternative energy systems that towns and villages must accommodate—from just solar to include wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, tidal, wave, ocean thermal, farm waste electric, and fuel cells. This encourages more diverse clean energy projects at the local level.
Potential for increased local clean energy adoption. By requiring local regulations to accommodate these various technologies, the bill could reduce regulatory barriers and make it easier for residents, businesses, and developers to install and use a wider array of renewable energy systems.
Alignment with state energy goals and innovation. The legislation supports New York’s broader climate and renewable energy targets by ensuring local laws don’t unduly restrict new and emerging energy technologies, potentially fostering innovation and local economic development.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow More Renewable Energy
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Print number 4266b
- Amend and recommit to local government
- Print number 4266a
- Amend and recommit to local government
- Referred to local government
- Referred to local government
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.
Require Cities Allow Renewables
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Amy Paulin
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4266--B
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 7, 2017
Introduced by Sen. GRIFFO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government -- recommitted to the Committee on Local Government in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
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 suitability for particular uses, and with a view to conserving the value of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01060-05-8
S. 4266--B 2
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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the town law and the village law, in relation to requiring local building and planning regulations to accom- modate the use of certain renewable and alternative energy sources
Purpose
To promote the use of renewable energy sources by encouraging towns and villages to consider certain renewable energy sources when designing zoning and planning regulations.
Summary of provisions
Section one amends section 263 of the town law by providing that when a town creates zoning and planning regulations, an additional factor to be considered shall be the accommodation of certain renewable energy resources.
Section two amends section 7-704 of the village law by providing that when a village creates zoning and planning regulations, an additional factor to be considered shall be the accommodation of certain renewable energy resources.
Section three provides an immediate effective date.
Justification
When a town or village creates zoning and planning regulations, they are created in accordance with a comprehensive plan and with consideration to several factors. Currently, among such factors are "safety from fire, flood, panic and other dangers." In order to encourage the use of alter- native sources of energy, the proposed legislation adds the accommo- dation of "renewable energy resources which, for the purposes of this section shall include solar thermal, photovoltaics, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal electric, geothermal ground source heat, tidal energy, wave energy, ocean thermal, farm waste electric generating equipment, and fuel cells to the list of factors that a town or village shall consider when creating its zoning and planning regulations. It is important to consider alternative sources of energy when making zoning and planning decisions and requiring towns and villages to do so will, hopefully, promote the use of "green" energy sources, which are cleaner, renewable and better in the long-term.
Legislative history
2015-16 - S. 3614b - Local Government/A. 65a - 3rd Reading. 2013-14 - S. 1074 - Local Government/A. 498 - 3rd Reading.
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
Effective date
Immediate.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.