S 8712 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Requires the office of renewable energy siting and electric transmission to establish and/or amend rules and regulations pertaining to standards related to siting major renewable energy facilities

Summary

Requires the office of renewable energy siting and electric transmission to establish and/or amend rules and regulations pertaining to standards related to the siting, design, construction and operation of major renewable energy facilities; requires such rules and regulations to include information relating to farmland protection and application procedures; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof.

Issues: ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 7, 2026 Last action Jun 1, 2026

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What changed between versions

S8712A → S8712B · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision adds a new sponsor and redefines 'agrivoltaics' to align with the Public Authorities Law. It updates definitions of agricultural activities to include pollinator habitats and adjusts soil protection rules to cover a broader range of soil types while adding specific food security considerations.

Scope change

The bill now includes Senator Gonzalez as a sponsor and expands the definition of eligible agricultural activities to explicitly include pollinator habitats and apiaries.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'Agrivoltaics' was changed from a standalone definition to a cross-reference to the Public Authorities Law, and the term was updated to 'Agrivoltaics project'.

The definition of 'Agricultural products and activities' was updated to use 'products or activities' and explicitly added 'pollinator habitats' and 'apiaries' as eligible farming activities.

REQUIREMENT

The criteria for protecting farmland were expanded to include mineral soil groups 5-7 (in addition to 1-4) and added language to ensure critical mass of farmland is not projected to be developed.

The review process for farmland protection was updated to require ORES to consider the future security of the state's food supply and impacts on soil quality.

TIMELINE

The reevaluation timeline was adjusted to include the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in the review process.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 8712B

upper

Jun 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 8712A

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

upper

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

upper

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors