Renewable Energy Siting Specialist 2

General Public

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and three years of experience* in environmental impact review or study of electricity, gas, water, telecommunications, or renewable energy projects such as solar and wind; development or analysis of land use policies for electricity, gas, water, telecommunications, or renewable energy projects; or specialized experience** related to energy transmission or production facilities.

*Substitution: A master’s degree may substitute for one year of experience. A Ph.D. may substitute for two years of experience.

** Specialized experience must be in fields such as agriculture, anthropology, archeology, architecture, avian sciences, botany, civil/construction engineering, climate change, electrical power systems engineering, energy planning, environmental compliance, environmental engineering, environmental justice, fire protection, geography, geology, geotechnical engineering, hydrology, landscape architecture, mining engineering, noise/acoustics engineering, planning, real estate, seismology, socio-economics, terrestrial ecology, transportation/highway engineering, urban affairs 

Preferred candidates would demonstrate strong organizational, writing, and communication skills, and have experience in one or more of the following: the siting of renewable energy generation or transmission facilities; zoning and other local laws and regulations related to land use and siting, local site plan review;  New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA); agriculture – including colocation of agriculture and renewable energy; and municipal and regional planning. Additional preferred qualifications include Geographic Information Systems (GIS), capabilities, and experience with regulatory affairs.

Duties Description: 

The Renewable Energy Siting Specialist 2, Grade 23, will work on the Local Laws and Agriculture Team within the Generation Section of Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES) and will serve as a local laws and ordinances and/or agricultural resources subject matter expert. The incumbent will track and review local law and ordinances compliance analyses and/or agricultural resources impact analyses and construction plans from pre-application through compliance phases. Duties may include, but are not limited to:

•  Coordinating with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets regarding ORES projects.
• Utilizing advanced expertise to perform more technically complex aspects of siting application review work.   
• Making recommendations concerning courses of action necessary to issue siting permits and certificates consistent with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
• Performing desktop analysis and field reviews to evaluate potential impacts to agricultural resources and/or local law compliance on large-scale renewable energy and electric/gas transmission projects.  
• Providing technical direction and guidance, analysis of technical training needs, and supervision or quality assurance review of work for lower-level staff. Preparing detailed investigation reports that contain analyses and interpretations of findings and recommends possible courses of action. 
• Analyzing applicable laws, rules, and regulations and developing standards and procedures. 
• Processing modification requests and recommending whether permit or compliance filings should be modified. 
• Participating in and attending internal and multi-party meetings, conferences, public outreach events, and hearings, in coordination with Department staff and at the discretion of project leads.
• Appearing for and on behalf of ORES in administrative and legal proceedings, providing expert testimony, and representing ORES decisions and analysis in adjudicatory proceedings and administrative appeals.
• May supervise Renewable Energy Siting Specialist 1 staff.
• Special projects and additional duties as assigned.  

Additional Comments:

If the position is filled in the New York City location, the salary range above would increase by the Downstate Adjustment of $4,000. 

This position will require at least 15% travel which requires possession of a valid driver’s license.