ORES Overview

Consistent with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), the mission of the Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES) is to consolidate the environmental review and permitting of major renewable energy facilities and electric transmission facilities in New York State into a single forum that provides a coordinated and timely review of siting permit applications.

This process is designed to help meet the State’s renewable energy objectives while ensuring the protection of the environment with consideration of all pertinent social, economic and environmental factors (including environmental justice) while providing opportunity for local government and community participation in the permitting process.

Effective April 20, 2024, the Renewable Action through Project Interconnection and Deployment (RAPID) Act (L 2024, ch 58, part O) repealed Executive Law § 94-c and enacted a new Public Service Law article VIII entitled “Siting of Renewable Energy and Electric Transmission” (Article VIII).

Public Service Law Article VIII may be accessed at NYS Public Service Law Article VIII

The RAPID Act consolidates the environmental review, permitting, and siting of major renewable energy facilities and major electric transmission facilities under the purview of the Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES).

Pursuant to the RAPID Act and the provisions of article 2 of the State Administrative Procedure Act (SAPA), ORES promulgated rules and regulations to implement the new siting program. Following an extensive public process, ORES filed the new regulations with the Secretary of State as new Part 1100 (General Procedures), Part 1101 (Major Renewable Energy Facility Siting), and Part 1102 (Major Electric Transmission Facility Siting).

The new Parts 1100, 1101, and 1102 became effective as of March 9, 2026. These regulations establish procedural rules and uniform standards and conditions for the siting, design, construction, and operation of major renewable energy generation and electric transmission facilities.

The text of the new Parts 1100, 1101, and 1102 may be accessed at ORES Regulatory Documents.

The ORES regulations establish procedural and substantive requirements for permit applications for major renewable energy and electric transmission facilities.

• All large-scale, renewable energy projects 25 megawatts or larger will be required to obtain a siting permit from ORES for new construction or expansion. Projects already in the initial phases of the current Article 10 siting process through the State’s Siting Board may remain in Article 10 or opt to transfer into the new siting process.
• All large-scale electric transmission facilities, 100 kV or more and extending 10+ miles, or 125 kV or more extending between one and 10 miles are required to obtain a siting permit from ORES.
• ORES has the authority to issue a single permit for the construction of major renewable energy and electric transmission facilities from both a state and local law perspective, but applicants will still be required to obtain any approvals necessary under federal law, including federally-delegated permits.
• ORES has 60 days from the date of its receipt of a permit application for a renewable energy facility or 120 days from the date of receipt of a permit application for an electric transmission facility to make a completeness determination. An application will not be complete without proof of consultation with the host municipalities and communities. After a completeness determination, draft permit conditions will be issued by ORES for public comment. Within the established comment period, the host municipalities must submit a statement indicating whether the proposed renewable energy facility complies with applicable local laws.
• ORES must issue a final decision on the siting permit within one year of the date on which the application is deemed complete.  If a renewable energy facility is proposed to be located on brownfield, former commercial or industrial, landfill, former power plant, or abandoned or underutilized sites, a decision on the siting permit must be issued within six months.