Res. No. 325

Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor of New York to sign the Renewable Action Through Project Interconnection and Deployment Act.

By Council Members Menin, Gennaro and Nurse

Whereas, In Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State Address, she proposed the Renewable Action Through Project Interconnection and Deployment (RAPID) Act to help achieve New York State’s (NYS) ambitious climate agenda; and

Whereas, The RAPID Act streamlines the creation of infrastructure to upgrade NYS’s energy grid for electric transition; and

Whereas, Electricizing the NYS power grid is crucial to reducing carbon emissions and making the transition to clean energy to power the Empire State; and

Whereas, The NYS Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) is responsible for permitting and sanctioning future large-scale green infrastructure projects to produce clean, renewable energy; and

Whereas, According to Kevin Parker, Chair of the NY Senate Energy Committee, ORES’ showing thus far has been lackluster, and improving  processing speed for new projects is urgent; and

Whereas, According to Governor Hochul’s office, a transmission process application may  indefinitely be delayed for up to two years as it sits in the approval process under the status quo; and

Whereas, So that the efficacy of ORES can be increased, the RAPID Act transfers ORES to the NYS Department of Public Service (DPS); and

Whereas, ORES is a relatively new agency created in 2020, and DPS is firmly established in NY public policy, rules, and regulations; and

Whereas, Being under the jurisdiction of DPS would clarify and simplify ORES’ role in the regulatory framework allowing more resources to be spent on reviewing and approving new electric energy construction rather than deliberating in the rule-making process; and

Whereas, The New York League of Conservation Voters, an organization dedicated to environmental advocacy, supports the RAPID Act to promote a more productive environmental review and permitting process bolstering development; and

Whereas, New York City (NYC)  has the goal of achieving one hundred percent clean energy by 2040 according to the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice; and

Whereas, The RAPID Act is an important milestone in transitioning NYC toward a renewable future and the creation of an all-electric power grid; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor of New York to sign the Renewable Action Through Project Interconnection and Deployment Act

LS #16103

JEB

2/29/24