Solar permitting — Livingston County, New York
On file: public meetings, local news, known opposition groups.
Finger Lakes; Geneseo (SUNY Geneseo); Morris Ridge Solar (177 MW, ORES-permitted) — NY's largest ORES project;. Permitting: Municipal SUP/Special Permit for <20 MW. ≥20 MW: ORES. Track record: Horseshoe Solar Energy Facility. Politic…
Key driver: Finger Lakes; Geneseo (SUNY Geneseo); Morris Ridge Solar (177 MW, ORES-permitted) — NY's largest ORES project; very active solar county
Permitting process
Local permitting pathway
Municipal SUP/Special Permit for <20 MW. ≥20 MW: ORES (Article 94-c) bypasses local zoning.
Setbacks & buffers
None codified at county level. ORES sets conditions for ≥20 MW; municipal zoning governs <20 MW. — NOTE: the distances above are a STATE-level fallback, not a figure read from this county's own ordinance. We hold siting-rule records for this county which may include a stricter local limit we have not yet extracted. Verify against the county's own ordinance before relying on these.
Spacing requirements
None codified.
Size restrictions
None codified.
Penalties & bonding
No penalties or adjustments. Standard CUP/SUP process.
State-level permits & approvals
New York Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES), established April 2020 under Executive Law §94-c (Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act): exclusive jurisdiction for projects ≥25 MW. Projects 20–25 MW may opt-in to ORES process. Sub-20 MW: local zoning governs. ORES can preempt local laws if 'unreasonably burdensome' to project — Third Department Appellate Court upheld this preemption authority (2023). ORES must issue siting permit within 12 months of completeness determination (6 months for repurposed/brownfield sites); if not decided, permit is deemed granted. RAPID Act (2024): consolidated major renewable energy + major electric transmission into single ORES process; draft regulations Dec 18, 2024 (public comment closed Mar 2025); implementing new pre-application consultation requirements including mandatory Indigenous Nation consultations. As of Mar 2026, ORES has issued 15 final siting permits totaling 2.3 GW. NYISO interconnection required statewide. All 62 NY counties in NYISO territory.
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State policy & grid context
State RPS & clean energy policy
70% by 2030, 100% zero-emission by 2040 | CLCPA (2019) | NYS PSL §66-p
State incentive programs
NY-Sun Initiative (NYSERDA): residential and commercial/industrial solar incentives; MW Block program provides upfront incentives per W-DC (declining block). NY Community Distributed Generation (CDG): community solar, Brooklyn-Queens neighborhood program. NY CLCPA (Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act): 70% RES by 2030; 100% clean by 2040; largest clean energy commitment of any state. NYISO RECs and ZECs: wholesale market credits support development. NY Article 94-c (ORES): state permit for ≥20 MW; preempts local opposition. NY Green Bank: project financing support. Utility varies by county: Con Edison (NYC/Westchester); National Grid (Long Island/Upstate); NYSEG (Southern Tier/North Country); Central Hudson (Hudson Valley); RG&E (Rochester); O&R (Orange/Rockland).
Grid & interconnection
NYISO Zone C (Central — National Grid / NYSEG)
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Battery storage (BESS) P1 State-Default Permitting
No confirmed standalone county BESS ordinance (county-level)
BESS ordinances & bylaws
County-level battery-storage status, safety requirements, and projects — each linked to a primary source.
Community opposition P1
Organized opposition signals on record for this county — petitions, community groups, and oppositional coverage — each linked to its primary source.
SitePath maintains the most complete community-opposition dataset available, refreshed continuously from primary sources.
Subscriber intel Subscribers
Researched for this county and available with a subscription:
- Project track record
- Developer intelligence
- Governing board
Energy-related meetings & dockets P1
Halo color matches the energy category tagged on each meeting.
- 2026-09-01 OtherBESS
Initial proposals have been submitted for a battery storage project in Mt. Morris and Avon.
- 2026-07-22 OtherData Center
Data center executive order was reviewed
- 2026-07-09 OtherData Center
The Planning Board will review a site plan for a new 9,600 SF building on Robert Hart Drive in the Village of Dansville.
- 2026-07-01 OtherBESS
The Planning Commission reviewed a Battery Energy Storage Site Plan Review and Special Use Permit in the Town of Avon.
- 2026-07-01 OtherBESS
The Livingston County Board of Supervisors heard a referral for a Battery Energy Storage Site Plan Review and Special Use Permit in the Town of Avon.
- 2026-06-24 OtherSolar
Receipt of notice of intent to construct a solar energy system.
- 2026-06-24 OtherSolar
The Livingston County Board of Supervisors approved an abstract of claims for a solar energy system.
- 2026-06-11 OtherBESS
The Town of Avon approved the zoning referral for the 5 MW AC battery energy storage systems at 2926 Lakeville Road
- 2026-06-11 OtherBESS
The Planning Board reviewed a site plan and special permit for two 5 MW AC battery energy storage systems in the Town of Avon.
- 2026-06-02 OtherSolar
The Planning Commission heard a referral for the Presbyterian Road solar project in the Town of Mount Morris.
- 2026-06-02 OtherSolar
The Planning Commission heard a referral for the Presbyterian Road solar project in the Town of Mount Morris.
- 2026-05-14 OtherBESS
Aurora Renewables presented a 5 MWac Solar Energy and Battery Energy Storage Project at 3003 Presbyterian Road, which the Planning Commission approved.
- 2026-04-09 OtherBESS
The battery energy storage project is proposed for consideration by the State.
- OtherBESS
The Planning Department discussed the benefits of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for renewable energy production and grid reliability.
- OtherSolar
The EMC investigated and proposed a Clean Energy Communities Program for Livingston County facilities improvements and clean energy actions.
- OtherBESS
The Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm in Livingston County
- OtherBESS
The Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm in Livingston County
- OtherBESS
The Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm in Livingston County
- OtherBESS
The Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm in Livingston County
- OtherSolar
The EMC developed a Work Plan for 2017 focusing on sustainability and environmental education.
- OtherWind
The Planning Commission voted to deny a special-use permit application for a 150 MW wind farm in Wyoming County.
- OtherSolar
The EMC investigated and proposed a Clean Energy Communities Program for Livingston County facilities improvements and clean energy actions.
- OtherBESS
The Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm in Livingston County
- OtherBESS
The Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm in Livingston County
- OtherBESS
The Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm in Livingston County
Full records for this county are part of a SitePath subscription.
State PSC dockets P1
No tracked activity yet — coverage expands weekly.
Local news P3
- 2026-08-12 York See Solar Eclipse Heres 140700482
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