Webinar: The Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth & Community Benefit Act: Implications for Local Planners

May 12, 2020
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

The newly enacted Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth & Community Benefit Act has received significant publicity for its reworking of the state-level review of large scale renewables by creating new Executive Law Section 94-C.  But the law also created new authority within NYSERDA for developing projects and revamped the process for transmission projects under Public Service Law Article VII.  It also initiated the first formal Public Service Commission proceeding addressing community benefits, which may influence community benefit agreements on many types of projects.  We will examine the new law, how the new regulatory environment may unfold, and review potential impacts on local planning activities.

Certificates of attendance will be issued to attendees to satisfy the training requirements for NYS planning and zoning board members.

Speakers:

Daniel Spitzer, Esq., Hodgson Russ LLP
Dan’s practice focuses on a wide variety of issues involving environmental law, renewable energy, sustainable development, land use law, municipal law, and real estate development. In the renewable energy arena he represents municipalities, developers, land owners, and financing entities, from project inception through successful litigation, including some of the largest wind farms in the eastern United States, multiple utility and small-scale solar projects and landfill gas-to-energy, geothermal, biomass, storage, transmission, and energy efficiency projects. He has guided many projects through the State Environmental Quality Review Act process and drafted numerous local zoning laws. He is a frequent speaker and writer on land use topics including as author of the initial draft of the Chapters on Annexation and Sustainable Design and Green Buildings in New York Zoning Law and Practice, 4th, edition.

Sarah Main, Esq., Hodgson Russ LLP
Sarah concentrates her practice in energy and environmental law. She provides legal advice and guidance on energy-related transactions and regulatory compliance pertaining to solar, energy storage, land-based and offshore wind, geothermal and electric vehicle infrastructure projects. She has experience advising on zoning and local land use requirements. Prior to joining Hodgson Russ, Sarah was counsel for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) where she handled legal matters regarding a broad portfolio of distributed energy resource programs.

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