Guidance for Local Wind Energy Ordinances
New York's Wind Energy Guidebook helps you understand how wind projects work in your community and what local approval processes apply—small wind facilities may be permitted locally under state environmental review and municipal land-use rules, while larger projects follow state-level siting processes (Article 10 or ORES review). The guidebook covers practical topics like noise, property impacts, and safety setbacks to help you evaluate wind development proposals affecting your area.
This guidebook clarifies New York's dual permitting pathways: major wind projects proceed through Article 10 or the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES), while small wind facilities qualify for local permitting under SEQR and municipal regulations. Understanding these state and local requirements—detailed in chapters on site selection, community impacts, birds/bats, and public safety setbacks—helps you navigate approval efficiently and demonstrate compliance to local officials.
NYSERDA's Wind Energy Guidebook is a free educational resource structured in chapters covering siting, environmental/community impacts, permitting pathways, and economics to support local government management of wind development across all sectors (residential, commercial, agricultural, institutional, tribal, and government). The program offers technical assistance via cleanenergyhelp@nyserda.org and clarifies that major projects use Article 10 or ORES review while small wind follows SEQR and local land-use processes, enabling consistent, informed local decision-making on wind siting.
Program details
- Program ID
- 3597
- Last updated
- 10/9/2024
Eligibility
- Sectors
- commercial industrial local government nonprofit residential schools state government federal government tribal government agricultural institutional
- Technologies
- wind (all) wind (small)
Program summary
The New York State Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has created a Wind Energy Guidebook to provide information on various aspects of wind energy development and to help communities that are interested in wind energy development prepare for the issues that they might encounter. The guidebook contains information and resources to support local governments managing land-based wind energy development in their communities. The guidebook’s chapters address important aspects of wind energy project siting, including environmental considerations, community impacts, permitting information, and other key topics.
The majority of wind projects built in the state will be permitted through one of two comprehensive state-level siting mechanisms: the “Article 10” process, or the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) review process. Small wind energy facilities may be permitted at the local level in accordance with the State Environmental Quality and Review Act (SEQR) and applicable municipal land-use regulations.
Local government officials can request free technical assistance to help further understand the issues addressed in the guidebook at cleanenergyhelp@nyserda.gov.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- JMP@nyserda.ny.gov
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
