Call to show energy on renewables

ALBANY — An unusual mix of real estate, labor and environmental groups are joining forces to call on legislators to back Gov. Cuomo’s proposal to streamline the approval process for renewable energy projects in New York.

Cuomo unveiled details of the plan as part of his budget amendments late last month and now a broad coalition of supporters including the Real Estate Board of New York, the League of Conservation Voters and unions want lawmakers to get on board.

A total of 19 groups signed off on a letter to Senate Majority Leader Andrea StewartCousins (D-Yonkers), Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (DBronx) and the governor on Thursday, calling on the trio “to refine and improve upon the proposed legislation so that this issue can be addressed” in the state budget.

“The renewable energy siting reform proposal greatly improves the efficiency of review and permitting while maintaining environmental protections,” the groups write. “It preserves community participation as it invites local input on draft permits and establishes a hearing process if local governments identify ‘substantive and significant’ issues.”

Cuomo’s proposal would speed up the permitting and construction process for solar, wind and other renewable energy projects by creating the Office of Renewable Energy Permitting. The office would to streamline the process for siting large-scale renewable energy projects across the state.

Large-scale renewable projects are currently approved by the state’s Public Service Commission, which oversees grid issues and utility companies. Renewable energy developers and environmentalists alike have long been frustrated by the snail-like pace of the current system.

The letter sent Thursday included a pair of recommendations from the groups: give the Department of Environmental Conservation a meaningful oversight role concerning environmental reviews and ensure that endangered species are protected during the approval process.