The New York State Legislature has passed the Public Renewables Transparency Act, a new law aimed at increasing oversight of the state’s renewable energy projects and accelerating the rollout of public power.
The bill, sponsored by Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris and Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha, passed unanimously in the Assembly on Friday after clearing the Senate earlier in the week.
The law requires the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to publish three annual progress reports, maintain a public dashboard, hold accessible public hearings, and coordinate planning with other energy agencies. These measures are designed to improve accountability and ensure the effective implementation of the 2023 Build Public Renewables Act (BPRA).
The BPRA authorized NYPA to lead the state’s transition to renewable energy, but critics say the agency’s current plan to build just 3 gigawatts (GW) falls far short of the 15 GW needed by 2030 to meet state climate targets and reduce reliance on polluting fossil fuel plants.
“This bill takes some immediate steps” to prioritize public participation, said Shrestha. Gianaris added that the new law will “guarantee the buildout of publicly-owned renewable energy is occurring in a responsible and timely manner.”
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