ORES - Who We Are

ORES is a one-stop shop for the comprehensive environmental review and permitting of major renewable energy and electric transmission facilities across New York State. ORES provides a coordinated and efficient permitting process that helps New York meet its infrastructure and clean energy goals while ensuring the protection of the environment with consideration of all pertinent social, economic and environmental factors (including disadvantaged communities) while providing opportunity for local government and community participation in the permitting process.

ORES staff includes subject matter experts in a wide range of topics, including wildlife and wetland biology, engineering, landscape architecture, acoustics, cultural resources, community engagement, and other specialties. The experts at ORES work alongside attorneys and other technical staff, in coordination with other State and local agencies, undertaking a comprehensive analysis of potential environmental and community impacts of proposed renewable energy and electric transmission facilities.

The ORES process is designed to be:

Streamlined and Efficient: We provide a consistent, coordinated permitting process that results in timely and responsible decisions.

Protective: Every project is evaluated against rigorous environmental and community protection standards.

Collaborative: We invite input from local communities, members of the public, and other interested stakeholders to inform our process.

Balanced: We carefully balance the need for a transparent and efficient process with strong environmental and community protections to enable the critically needed deployment of a modern and climate-friendly grid. 

Open and Transparent: We require public engagement and notification throughout the application and permitting process, and all application materials and decisions are publicly available.

ORES siting permits adhere to rigorous environmental standards:

Comprehensive Reviews: Ensures alignment with the State’s infrastructure and clean energy needs, while protecting the environment and considering social, community, public safety, economic, and environmental factors.

Environmental Protection: Developers must avoid, minimize, and mitigate any potential impact to environmental resources.

Compliance Monitoring: Ensures projects follow environmental rules during construction and operations. Projects are required to have full-time independent environmental monitors. Additionally, experienced ORES and DEC field staff inspect all projects.

Renewable energy projects provide multiple benefits to host communities:

Economic Growth: Boosts local economies through Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreements and taxes, host community benefit agreements, and utility bill credits for local residents.

Job Creation: Renewable energy projects generate hundreds of construction jobs over multiple years.

Cleaner Environment: Reduces carbon emissions and improves air quality.

Applicants submitting renewable energy project proposals to ORES must provide meaningful opportunities for public participation throughout the process, beginning with consultation with local leadership and a community meeting before the application is submitted and continuing through public review and comment on the draft siting permit.

1. Pre-Application:

• At least 60 days before applying for a siting permit for a renewable energy project, a developer must meet with local governments and agencies to review the project, discuss local laws, and learn about local interests, priorities, and concerns.
• The developer is required to hold a public meeting to inform community members about the proposed project and allow them to ask questions.

2. Application Submission:

• Developers submit an application that covers local laws, public health, safety, environmental impacts, and economic factors
• ORES reviews applications within 60 days and may ask for more information if needed.
• As part of the application, applicants are required to publish a project website with project details, maps, contacts, and other information about the project.

3. Draft Permit and Public Participation:

• Once the application is deemed complete, ORES will publish a draft permit, which may include proposed project-specific conditions and local law waivers if necessary.
• The public is invited to review the application and submit comments through the ORES website, in writing via mail or electronic mail, or at the public comment hearing.
• A minimum 60-day public comment period begins with the release of a draft permit; members of the public are invited to review the permit and submit comments on the draft permit to ORES online or by mail.
• ORES will also hold a public hearing in the host community to allow community input on the application and draft permit.

4. Issue Resolution:

• Administrative Law Judges review all public comments and petitions.
• Any substantive issues are resolved through a formal adjudicatory hearings process.

5. Final Decision:

• A final permit will be issued that reflects resolutions reached during the hearings process, if any.
• ORES will release an Assessment of Public Comments that documents how public comments were evaluated and considered in the final determination