Permitting
Project Permitting
The Coeymans Solar Facility is being permitted under New York State's "Article 10" power plant siting law signed into effect in 2011.
Article 10 provides for the siting review of new and repowered or modified major electric generating facilities in New York State by the Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment (Siting Board) in a unified proceeding instead of requiring a developer or owner of such a facility to apply for numerous state and local permits.
Key provisions of the law include:
- Defines a major electric generating facility as facilities of 25 megawatts or more;
- Requires environmental and public health impact analyses, studies regarding electric system benefits and public safety, and consideration of local laws;
- Directs applicants to provide funding for both the pre-application and application phases. It allows funding to be used to help intervenors (affected municipalities and other parties) hire experts to participate in the review of the application and for legal fees (but not for judicial challenges);
- Requires a utility security plan reviewed by Homeland Security;
- Provides for appointment of ad hoc public members of the Siting Board from the municipality where the facility is proposed to be sited; and,
- Requires a public information coordinator within the Department of Public Service to assist and advise interested parties and members of the public in participating in the siting process.
