STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 9025 IN ASSEMBLY January 10, 2020 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. CUSICK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the leasing of renewable energy development rights on reforestation areas The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a 2 new section 9-0508 to read as follows: 3 § 9-0508. Leasing of renewable energy development rights on reforesta- 4 tion areas. 5 Notwithstanding any provisions of article seven of the public lands 6 law to the contrary, the department may, in any lands acquired by the 7 state in accordance with section 9-0501 of this title, enter into leases 8 for the purpose of aiding in the siting, connectivity, and transmission 9 of renewable energy installations, including, but not limited to, solar 10 power and wind power, under such terms as may be prescribed by the 11 department, and upon such conditions that the exercise of such leasehold 12 rights shall not interfere with the operation of such reforestation 13 areas for the purposes for which they were acquired and as defined in 14 section three of article fourteen of the New York state constitution. 15 Any lease made and entered into pursuant to this section shall be 16 recorded in the office of general services and be made available to the 17 public on the official website of such office. 18 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD13885-02-9