Bill > A03959

This bill requires that if a permit is sought for a major electric transmission facility that would impact grassland bird breeding or wintering habitat within a designated conservation center, the Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES) must mandate a mitigation ratio of three acres of conservation land for every acre of occupied grassland bird breeding habitat and three acres for every acre of grassland bird wintering habitat that is affected. This mitigation is intended to provide a net conservation benefit and cannot be reduced by other calculations, such as dividing the impact by habitat succession cycles. The bill applies to permits where a final conservation benefit plan has not yet been approved.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3959