Technical Assistance and Workshops
Technical Assistance
Siting and permitting clean energy in a safe, responsible manner is a technical challenge. To get through the processes of codes, regulation, and safety review, NYSERDA now offers a Clean Energy Siting Technical Assistance Contractor Pool. The pool, which is state-funded and available to both municipalities and AHJs, is a team of industry experts ready to help you now in these five areas:
- Planning and zoning
- Land use and engineering review
- Code enforcement
- Energy storage and fire safety
- Clean energy project economics
Planning and Zoning
Contractor expertise includes:
- Agricultural and clean energy colocation practices
- Create or update zoning resolutions
- Review local laws
- Review project applications
- Create or amend local comprehensive plans pertaining to clean energy siting
- Offer information about zoning and siting decisions
Land Use and Engineering Review
Contractors can:
- Review site plans
- Provide technical materials related to clean energy projects
- Offer training and technical reference documents related to structural, mechanical, and electrical building codes and standards
- Offer engineering perspectives for siting clean energy technologies
- Give technical assistance on a variety of land use issues including agricultural and clean energy colocation practices
- Review clean energy site plans for environmental impact and other land use issues
Contractors can conduct engineering reviews of:
- System design on solar, energy storage, and wind energy projects of all sizes
Additionally, contractors can support the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process where local government planning boards, serve as the leading agency responsible for the application and site plan review.
Code Enforcement
Contractors can:
- Review site plans
- Develop and provide trainings and technical reference documents related to structural, mechanical, and electrical building codes and standards
- Offer design review support and field inspection support in accordance with applicable building, electric, energy, fire codes, and local ordinances
This support may span clean energy technologies’ project planning, design, and construction phases and cover activities supporting project permitting and inspecting.
Energy Storage and Fire Safety
Contractors can:
- Assist local code enforcement officers with inspecting and permitting energy storage systems
- Review energy storage system plans for fire safety hazards and code compliance
- Review manufacturing specifications of proposed energy storage systems
- Advise municipalities on issues related to energy storage fire safety, insurance, and disposal.
- Help design, support,, and/or deliver energy storage guidebook resources and updates in addition to fire safety courses for energy storage systems to local fire department and code officials
Clean Energy Project Economics
Contractors can:
- Offer necessary advice on clean energy project economics
- Assist in generating a model pro forma
- Explain the revenue streams of proposed projects
- Review and explain host community benefit agreements, PILOTs and other issues related to clean energy project economics
Get Started
To get started connected with a contractor:
- Email [email protected]
- Write “Technical Assistance Contractor Pool” in the subject line
- In the body of the emails, include a description of the task you need help with, the category of assistance you need, and a contact name, phone, and email where we can follow up
Workshops for Continuing Education Credits
Clean Energy and Your Comprehensive Plan
Annual Training for Planning & Zoning Board of Appeals Members: 1.5-2 hours in length
Provides an introduction to best practices and strategies for incorporating clean energy goals and objectives into a new or updated municipal comprehensive plan. Information presented in the course ranges from introductory planning and clean energy basics to detailed comprehensive planning strategies.
Overview of the Model Solar Energy Law
Annual Training for Planning & Zoning Board of Appeals Members: 1.5-2 hours in length
Offers a review of the Model Solar Energy Law developed by NYSERDA as a best practice guidance. NYSERDA reviewed solar laws statewide and nationally to develop an all-inclusive model for municipalities to use to adopt a solar law.
Overview of the Model Battery Energy Storage Law
Annual Training for Planning & Zoning Board of Appeals Members — 1.5-2 hours in length
Offers a review of the Model Battery Energy Storage Law developed by NYSERDA as best practice guidance. This course also reviews battery energy storage technology basics, along with important code considerations with regard to siting battery storage projects.
Understanding Solar PV Permitting and Inspecting in New York State
Accredited by: NY Dept. of State Division of Building Standards & Codes (DOS BSC) 2 in-service hours
Provides an in-depth review of the entire process of permitting and inspecting solar systems in New York State from start to finish, including the NYS Unified Solar Permit. Workshop includes topics on code enforcement and administration, uniform fire prevention, and building code.
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