What's happening
This bill creates a wind siting designation board with nine regional planning bodies to review and approve windmill siting applications statewide.
Why it matters
Creates a formal, regionally-based process for windmill siting decisions. By establishing nine regional planning bodies with local representation, the bill ensures that wind energy projects are reviewed with attention to regional needs, priorities, and environmental concerns—potentially increasing community buy-in or scrutiny.
Introduces local government influence in renewable energy infrastructure. Each planning body includes three local government members, giving municipalities direct input into wind project decisions in their area, which could address concerns about local impacts or NIMBY-ism (Not In My Back Yard).
Allows for the designation of wind “no-go” zones. The board is empowered to identify areas where wind farms are impermissible, providing a mechanism for communities or environmental regulators to protect sensitive landscapes, wildlife habitats, or culturally important areas from wind development.
Standardizes wind siting statewide while respecting regional differences. While there is a unified board structure, the division into nine regions reflects differing geographies, population densities, and energy needs, potentially leading to more tailored and effective regulation of wind energy projects across New York State.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Wind Siting Board
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5008
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 3, 2019
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to establishing a wind siting designation board
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new article 48 to read as follows:
ARTICLE 48
WIND SITING Section 48-0101. Wind siting. § 48-0101. Wind siting.
1. The wind siting designation board is hereby created, and shall consist of nine regional planning bodies each of which shall be located within one of the department's nine regions pursuant to subdivision four of this section. Each regional planning body of the wind siting designation board shall consist of the regional director of each department of environmental conservation region within such regional planning body; one member who shall be designated by the chairman of the New York Power Authority and who shall reside within the regional planning body to which such person is appointed; one member who shall be designated by the chairman of the Empire State Development Corporation who shall reside within the region the regional planning body represents; and three members from a local government entity within the region the regional planning body represents, provided, however, that the three members shall not be from the same originating entity and that such members shall be appointed in joint agreement by the regional director. Members of the board shall serve for a term of six years; provided, however, that if any member shall disaffiliate from the originating entity from which he or she was appointed to the board, then such member shall be terminated from the board and a new member shall be appointed
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10308-01-9
S. 5008 2
from the originating entity. Each member of the board shall be entitled to designate a representative to attend meetings of the board in his or her place, and to vote or otherwise act on his or her behalf in his or her absence. Notice of such designation shall be furnished in writing to the board by the designating member. A representative shall serve at the pleasure of the designating member. A representative shall not be authorized to delegate any of his or her duties or functions to any other person.
2. The wind siting designation board shall receive and consider all applications to site any windmill or windmills, on an individual basis to approve or disapprove an individual application for wind siting.
3. The wind siting designation board may consider designating areas within a region where it shall be impermissible to site a wind farm.
4. The nine regional planning bodies shall be as follows:
(a) region one shall consist of Nassau and Suffolk counties;
(b) region two shall consist of Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island;
(c) region three shall consist of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties;
(d) region four shall consist of Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Schoharie counties;
(e) region five shall consist of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties;
(f) region six shall consist of Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida and St. Lawrence counties;
(g) region seven shall consist of Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Tioga and Tompkins counties;
(h) region eight shall consist of Chemung, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates counties; and
(i) region nine shall consist of Allegany, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Niagara and Wyoming counties.
§ 2. 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 environmental conservation law, in relation to establishing a wind siting designation board
Purpose
To establish a uniform method to site and designate areas where wind- mills are permitted in New York state.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends the Environmental Conservation law, creating Article 48, Wind Siting.
1. Establishes a wind siting designation board.
2. Outlines the duties of the wind siting designation board.
3. Establishes nine regional planning bodies and follows those desig- nated under the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.
4. Outlines the nine regional planning bodies.
Section 2: This act shall effect immediately.
Existing law
None.
Justification
New York State has been experiencing an influx of interest in siting wind mills and wind farms. This legislation seeks to incorporate a uniform system for siting windmills. In order to establish a system where piecemeal siting of windmills may benefit one county, yet cause stress to a neighboring one, it is necessary to have regional boards to weigh the pros and cons of wind siting applications.
Legislative history
2017-18: S2238- REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION 2015-16: S1572 - Died in Environmental Conservation 2013-14: S849 - Died in Environmental Conservation 2011-12: S2435 - Died in Environmental Conservation 2010: S7923 - Referred to Environmental Conservation
Fiscal implications
Minimal resources to establish and maintain each regional board.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.