Summary

The legislation amends the Environmental Conservation Law to allow the State to enter into lease or easement agreements to facilitate the development and interconnection of renewable energy facilities on state-owned reforested lands.

Explanation

The Environmental Conservation Law allows the State to enter leases for oil and gas exploration, extraction, and storage on lands acquired for the purpose of reforestation. There is no similar provision to allow for leases or easements for the purposes of aiding the development and interconnection of renewable energy facilities. This legislation corrects this oversight, by adding a new section to the reforestation law allowing for leases facilitating the build-out of renewables.

The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) mandates 70-percent of New York’s electricity needs be served by renewables by 2030 and 100% of the supply be emissions free by 2040.  According to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), there are over 600,000 acres of reforestation areas in New York. Achieving the State’s renewable targets requires all options on the table. Ending the fossil fuel industry’s exclusive access to energy development on reforested lands will help New York reach its renewable potential.

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