ALBANY- For the fourth consecutive year, the State Senate has approved a bill this week that will help governments to install carport solar arrays on parking lots in public parks. According to the bill’s sponsor, State Senator Peter Harckham, the move will help the state meet its ambitious goals included in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
“By streamlining the approval process, we will be able to advance more solar projects, create more clean, renewable energy, reduce carbon emissions and produce revenue for our municipalities,” said Harckham.
Under current law, municipalities must request an act from the legislature to alienate parklands that include airspace directly above real property being used for vehicle parking. This creates both an administrative and financial burden for communities that want to generate renewable energy locally.
If passed in the State Assembly and signed by the governor, the new rule will allow municipalities to bypass the procedure of requesting the state legislature to alienate parkland in order to advance solar energy projects under two megawatts that are located directly above land currently being used for vehicle parking. Harckham believes that removing the red tape will help bring solar projects online more quickly.
The bill had previously passed the State Senate in the 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 legislative sessions.
