BILL NUMBER: S1340
SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of materials for the
timely construction of major renewable energy facilities in furtherance
of the goals mandated by the New York state climate leadership and
community protection act
 
PURPOSE:
Ensures the safe and efficient delivery of materials for the timely
construction of major renewable energy facilities in furtherance of the
goals mandated by the New York state climate leadership and community
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 sets forth the legislative findings and declaration.
Section 2(a) expands the permissible hauling days for the transportation
of materials intended for the construction of renewable energy facili-
ties to include Saturday and Sunday; (b) permits Environmental Conserva-
tion Officers, Parks Police, County Sherriff and the National Guard, and
certified private security escorts, to act as escort vehicles for
"superload" hauls; (c) streamlines inspection procedures;
and,(d)requires prioritization of permitting and requests for approval
for suchtravel for the transport of materials intended for use in a
major renewable energy facility.
Section 3 establishes that this Act shall take effect immediately.
 
REASONS FOR SUPPORT:
In 2019, the State enacted the historic climate leadership and community
protection act (CLCPA) to mitigate the impacts of climate change and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions from anthropogenic sources 100% over
1990 levels by the year 2050.
In enacting the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Bene-
fit Act in 2020, the State recognized that achieving the goals of the
CLCPA would not only require the deployment of substantial amounts of
renewable resources throughout the State, but also a reimagining of the
foundational systems and structures that make those accomplishments
possible.
This bill, thematically, is but one example of how the State's commit-
ment to climate change must extend to reviewing, modernizing and bring-
ing agency and authority rules and guidance into conformity with the
CLCPA. This legislation is borne out of the same conceptual framework
that gave rise to the accelerated siting process by streamlining the
mechanisms by which onshore wind turbine components are delivered to
project sites. As a practical example, a single utility-scale wind
project may require over 500 infrastructure and component deliveries
necessary to complete construction. Certain components, such as those
used for the construction of the physical tower, are particularly large
and are designated 'super loads' by NYSDOT. This designation, among
other things, necessitates that a New York State Police officer escort
the super load along its planned route. Because of the unprecedented
volume and size of materials planned for transport, the current rules
regarding the use of police escorts for the transport of such loads may
result in delays, shortages of police officer escorts, and retention of
truck traffic, hindering construction of major renewable energy facili-
ties. This legislation would allow other police agencies, the national
guard, and certified escort vehicles to supplement the State Police with
regard to super load transportation so ensure that projects are
constructed as rapidly as possible while not placing an untenable burden
on the State Police.
These issues this legislation seeks to address are not naturally intui-
tive but are nonetheless important: over the next two decades, thousands
of hauls will be needed to build out the the resources necessary for New
York to generate 100% clean power by 2040. The scourge of climate
change, and its impact on our communities and vulnerable populations,
demands we act now. A delay of even an hour, per haul, in the aggregate,
means thousands of hours lost at a moment when time is truly of the
essence.
 
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
 
HISTORY:
2023-24: S373
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately