Senate bill · S8970 (2025-26)
Establishes a municipal solar planning grant program
New York State Senate
Same as A10552, the matching bill in the Assembly.
Summary
Establishes a municipal solar planning grant program for municipalities to receive grants for plans to develop solar energy systems on agricultural land and commercially-zoned properties in such municipalities; creates a database to track such solar energy system distribution.
Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries
Amends the Environmental Conservation Law.
From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 21, 2026. About our data
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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo
To create state incentives for municipalities which maintain or exceed a promulgated ratio of parking lot and rooftop solar projects relative to ones which occupy open space.
Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)
Where it stands
Assigned to a committee for review.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Up for a vote
- Passed one chamber
- Passed
- Enacted
Committee
Environmental Conservation · New York State Assembly
Also referred to Environmental Conservation · New York State Senate.
The sponsor's argument
Why Jake Ashby says this is needed
While the charge from New Yorkers to control their utility bills and the reliability of our state's electrical grid are of paramount importance, it's likewise critical that the siting and planning process for even badly-needed energy projects favor outcomes that protect the arability, natural beauty and biodiversity of our municipalities. This bill requires NYSERDA to establish a statewide Solar Planning Grant Program to provide incentives to localities which maintain or exceed a promul- gated ratio of commercial, residential and parking lot solar projects relative to those sited on open and agricultural land.
This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.
Full history
- May 20, 2026
Held for Consideration in Environmental Conservation
HELD FOR CONSIDERATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
NY Assembly
- Mar 13, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
NY Assembly
- Jan 21, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
NY Senate