New York governor proposes renewable energy permitting office to speed projects

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D, has proposed a new Office of Renewable Energy Permitting that would "improve and streamline the process" for permitting large-scale renewable energy projects across the state. The Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act was advanced Feb. 21 as a 30-day budget amendment, and if adopted, would consolidate the environmental review of major renewable facilities into a single forum under the New York Department of Economic Development. Projects that have already begun to navigate the current permitting process will be able to opt in to the new process. The new office would aim to ensure complete applications are acted upon within one year, with some former commercial and industrial sites being reviewed within six months.