Prohibits the issuing of major renewable energy and major electric transmission facility siting permits in designated grassland bird conservation centers including, but not limited to, three such centers in Jefferson county, one center in Saint Lawrence county, the Oak-Orchard-Iroquois center, the Washington County Grasslands center, the Finger Lakes National Forest center and the Shawangunk Grasslands.
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9639
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 21, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to prohibiting the
issuing of major renewable energy and major electric transmission
facility siting permits in designated grassland bird conservation
centers
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 138 of the public service law is amended by adding
a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
6. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THE LAW, NO MAJOR RENEWABLE
ENERGY SITING PERMIT SHALL BE ISSUED FOR A SITE LOCATED IN A DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION DESIGNATED GRASSLAND BIRD CONSERVATION
CENTER, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THREE SUCH CENTERS IN JEFFERSON
COUNTY, ONE CENTER IN SAINT LAWRENCE COUNTY, THE OAK-ORCHARD-IROQUOIS
CENTER, THE WASHINGTON COUNTY GRASSLANDS CENTER, THE FINGER LAKES
NATIONAL FOREST CENTER AND THE SHAWANGUNK GRASSLANDS.
§ 2. Section 139 of the public service law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 7 to read as follows:
7. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THE LAW, NO MAJOR ELECTRIC
TRANSMISSION FACILITY SITING PERMIT SHALL BE ISSUED FOR A SITE LOCATED
IN A DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION DESIGNATED GRASSLAND BIRD
CONSERVATION CENTER, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THREE SUCH CENTERS
IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, ONE CENTER IN SAINT LAWRENCE COUNTY, THE OAK-ORCH-
ARD-IROQUOIS CENTER, THE WASHINGTON COUNTY GRASSLANDS CENTER, THE FINGER
LAKES NATIONAL FOREST CENTER AND THE SHAWANGUNK GRASSLANDS.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
the amendments made to sections 138 and 139 of the public service law
made by sections one and two of this act shall not affect the repeal of
such sections and shall be deemed repealed therewith.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14504-01-6
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