Senate Bill S7898A

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Requires certain construction project contracts to include siting of renewable energy systems, qualified energy storage systems, or electric major utility transmission facilities

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Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Energy And Telecommunications Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 13, 2026	print number 7898a
May 13, 2026	amend (t) and recommit to energy and telecommunications
Jan 07, 2026	referred to energy and telecommunications
May 13, 2025	referred to energy and telecommunications

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2025-S7898 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A11237
Current Committee:: Senate Energy And Telecommunications
Law Section:: Economic Development Law
Laws Affected:: Add §107, Ec Dev L

2025-S7898 - Summary

Requires certain construction project contracts with a value of greater than or equal to five million dollars to include siting of renewable energy systems, qualified energy storage systems, or major electric transmission facilities.

2025-S7898 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7898

SPONSOR: HINCHEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the economic development law, in relation to certain
construction project contracts to include siting of solar energy arrays,
major renewable energy facilities, or major electric transmission facil-
ities

 
PURPOSE:

To promote renewable energy production and transmission siting as part
of State economic development initiatives.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one amends economic development law to require that contracts
for new construction entered into, overseen, or enforced by the depart-
ment of economic development or empire state development corporation
with a value of greater than $5M in State funding support shall include,
to the greatest extent feasible, siting of solar energy arrays, major

renewable energy facilities, or major electric transmission facilities.

Section two is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York
State aims to source 70% of its electricity from renewables by 2030.
Meeting this target will require substantial new investment in renewable
generation and transmission capacity. White the State has taken actions
to expand renewables, we still rely too often on developer-led initi-
atives rather than actively promoting renewables as State policy.

Empire State Development is a public benefit corporation tasked with
promoting and growing the New York state economy, including promoting
investment and job creation through loans, grants, tax credits, real
estate development, and other assistance. It oversees housing site
development, funds regional economic development including workforce
programs, provides capital grants to employers to retain or attract new
jobs, and develops infrastructure necessary to support businesses.

As a major driver of capital projects, Empire State Development can be a
vehicle for advancing the State's climate goals. New York should lead by
example in promoting renewable energy construction on State-funded
projects to the greatest extent possible. This bill will create synergy
between our economic development strategy and our renewable energy goats
by requiring, to the greatest extent feasible, that solar is paired with
development of large state projects such as new construction, prison
redevelopment, or other priorities. This wilt ensure that our investment
policies help drive our climate strategy as we move toward renewables,
energy independence, and climate sustainability.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediate

2025-S7898 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7898
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 13, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. HINCHEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on  Energy  and  Telecommuni-
   cations
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the economic development law, in relation to certain
   construction project contracts  to  include  siting  of  solar  energy
   arrays,  major  renewable  energy facilities, or major electric trans-
   mission facilities
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The  economic  development law is amended by adding a new
 section 107 to read as follows:
   § 107. SOLAR SITING REQUIREMENTS. ANY CONTRACT  FOR  NEW  CONSTRUCTION
 PROJECTS  ENTERED  INTO,  OVERSEEN, OR ENFORCED BY THE DEPARTMENT OR THE
 EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WITH A VALUE  OF  GREATER  THAN  OR
 EQUAL  TO  FIVE  MILLION  DOLLARS  IN  STATE FUNDING PARTICIPATION SHALL
 INCLUDE, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT FEASIBLE, SITING OF SOLAR ENERGY ARRAYS,
 MAJOR RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES, OR MAJOR ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION FACIL-
 ITIES WITHIN THE TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION OF SUCH PROJECT.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11820-02-5

2025-S7898A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A11237
Current Committee:: Senate Energy And Telecommunications
Law Section:: Economic Development Law
Laws Affected:: Add §107, Ec Dev L

2025-S7898A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S7898A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7898A

SPONSOR: HINCHEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the economic development law, in relation to certain
construction project contracts to include siting of renewable energy
systems, qualified energy storage systems, or electric major utility
transmission facilities

 
PURPOSE:

To promote renewable energy production and transmission siting as part
of State economic development initiatives.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the economic development law to require any contract
for new construction projects entered into, overseen, or enforced by the
department of economic development or the empire state development
corporation with a value of greater than or equal to five million
dollars in State funding participation shall include, to the greatest

extent feasible, siting of solar energy arrays, major renewable energy
facilities, or major electric transmission facilities within the terms
of construction of such project.

Section 2 sets forth the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York
State aims to source 70% of its electricity from renewables by 2030.
Meeting this target will require substantial new investment in renewable
generation and transmission capacity. White the State has taken actions
to expand renewables, we still rely too often on developer-led initi-
atives rather than actively promoting renewables as State policy.

Empire State Development is a public benefit corporation tasked with
promoting and growing the New York state economy, including promoting
investment and job creation through loans, grants, tax credits, real
estate development, and other assistance. It oversees housing site
development, funds regional economic development including workforce
programs, provides capital grants to employers to retain or attract new
jobs, and develops infrastructure necessary to support businesses.

As a major driver of capital projects, Empire State Development can be a
vehicle for advancing the State's climate goals. New York should lead by
example in promoting renewable energy construction on State-funded
projects to the greatest extent possible. This bill will create synergy
between our economic development strategy and our renewable energy goals
by requiring, to the greatest extent feasible, that solar is paired with
development of large state projects such as new construction, prison
redevelopment, or other priorities. This will ensure that our investment
policies help drive our climate strategy as we move toward renewables,
energy independence, and climate sustainability.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediate

2025-S7898A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  7898--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 13, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. HINCHEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on  Energy  and  Telecommuni-
   cations  --  recommitted  to  the Committee on Energy and Telecommuni-
   cations in  accordance  with  Senate  Rule  6,  sec.  8  --  committee
   discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
   to said committee
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the economic development law, in relation to certain
   construction project contracts to include siting of  renewable  energy
   systems,  qualified  energy storage systems, or electric major utility
   transmission facilities
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The  economic  development law is amended by adding a new
 section 107 to read as follows:
   § 107. RENEWABLE ENERGY AND TRANSMISSION SITING CONSIDERATIONS.    ANY
 CONTRACT  FOR  NEW  CONSTRUCTION  PROJECTS  ENTERED  INTO,  OVERSEEN, OR
 ENFORCED BY THE DEPARTMENT OR THE EMPIRE STATE  DEVELOPMENT  CORPORATION
 WITH  A  VALUE OF GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO FIVE MILLION DOLLARS IN STATE
 FUNDING PARTICIPATION SHALL INCLUDE, TO THE  GREATEST  EXTENT  FEASIBLE,
 SITING  OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS AS DEFINED IN SECTION SIXTY-SIX-P OF
 THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW, QUALIFIED ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS AS  DEFINED  IN
 SECTION SEVENTY-FOUR OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW, OR ELECTRIC MAJOR UTILI-
 TY  TRANSMISSION  FACILITIES AS DEFINED IN SECTION ONE HUNDRED TWENTY OF
 THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW WITHIN THE TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION OF SUCH PROJECT.
 THE DEPARTMENT OR THE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION  MAY  CONSULT
 WITH  THE  NEW  YORK STATE ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, OR
 ANY OTHER RELEVANT AGENCY OR AUTHORITY WHEN CONSIDERING  THE  SITING  OF
 QUALIFIED  ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS, RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS AND ELECTRIC
 MAJOR UTILITY TRANSMISSION FACILITIES. IF SUCH A PROJECT CANNOT ACCOMMO-
 DATE THE SITING OF RENEWABLE  ENERGY  SYSTEMS,  ELECTRIC  MAJOR  UTILITY
 TRANSMISSION  FACILITIES,  OR  A  QUALIFIED  ENERGY  STORAGE SYSTEM, THE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11820-03-6

 S. 7898--A                          2
 
 DEPARTMENT OR THE EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT  CORPORATION  SHALL  ISSUE  A
 BRIEF  DETERMINATION  IN  WRITING INCLUDING A DESCRIPTION OF THE REASONS
 FOR THE DECISION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S7898A

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Energy And Telecommunications Committee

Actions

Bill Amendments

2025-S7898 - Details

2025-S7898 - Summary

2025-S7898 - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7898 - Bill Text download pdf

2025-S7898A (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S7898A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S7898A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7898A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

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Sponsored By

Michelle Hinchey

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Energy And Telecommunications Committee

Actions

Bill Amendments

2025-S7898 - Details

2025-S7898 - Summary

2025-S7898 - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7898 - Bill Text download pdf

2025-S7898A (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S7898A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S7898A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S7898A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments