Posts by Sahana Rao
NY Office of Renewable Energy Siting Issues Draft Regulations to Facilitate Swift Development of Large-Scale Renewable Energy Projects
On September 16, 2020, the newly formed Office of Renewable Energy Siting (“ORES”) issued draft regulations intended to streamline permitting and development of large-scale renewable energy projects in New York State. The draft regulations, which are now available for public comment, reflect New York’s ongoing effort to achieve the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s…
Read MoreNew York State Proposes Specific Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets for 2030 and 2050
The New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019 (CLCPA) requires statewide reductions of greenhouse gas emissions of 40% by 2030 and 85% by 2050, as compared to 1990 levels, in order to help slow the rate of global climate change. The CLCPA directed the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation…
Read MoreNew FERC Order No. 872 Likely to Increase Regulatory Burden on Small Renewable Energy Facilities
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission recently issued Final Order No. 872, implementing sweeping changes to the regulations that implement the Public Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, also known as PURPA. Although the Commission described the changes as a move to “modernize the Commission’s interpretation of PURPA,” the new regulations will likely pose significant challenges for…
Read MoreNYCDOB to Issue Local Law 97 Adjustment Guidance in January 2021
Gina Bocra, the Chief Sustainability Officer for the New York City Department of Buildings (NYCDOB), recently announced that in January 2021, the agency expects to issue guidance on the process for obtaining an adjustment to buildings’ greenhouse gas emissions caps under Local Law 97 of 2019 (as amended through Local Law 147 of 2019). Such…
Read MoreNew York State Adopts Drinking Water Standards for Three Emerging Contaminants
New York State has considered the imposition of Maximum Contaminant Levels (“MCLs”) for the emerging contaminants 1,4-dioxane, perfluorooctanoic acid (“PFOA”) and perfluorooctanoic sulfonate (“PFOS”) for almost three years, since September 2017 when the Governor announced the creation of a Drinking Water Quality Council to make recommendations. Following the publication of proposed rules and a later…
Read MorePublic Service Commission Petitioned by NYSERDA To Fund Build-Ready Program
On June 5, 2020, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) petitioned the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) for approval and funding of NYSERDA’s proposed Build-Ready Program, a program that would advance large-scale renewable energy projects by identifying sites that are consistent with New York’s standards and are made build-ready for…
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