Mission:
Educate the Gardiner Community for Shared Action
Desired outcomes:
A Gardiner BESS law adoption that protects Gardiner’s residents and resources; a law that is reasonable and fair.
To protect Gardiner from the outcomes of State legislation for the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES).
Get involved:
Town Board Workshop Meeting: May 5, 2026 - 7:00PM - town hall
This board meeting includes a presentation/discussion about BESS Tiers, Zoning Districts, proposed questions, and immediate next steps.
Provide your feedback during “privilege of the floor.”
Next Community Meeting: To be determined - We need to consolidate information from our last meeting on April 17th and then convey our path moving forward. Don’t let that slow you down from getting involved.
current Moratorium extension Expires: july 14, 2026
The Town Board will either present draft law for public comment prior, (or) seek an additional moratorium extension to complete the draft law process with sufficient time for public comment.
BESS is short for Battery Energy Storage System. The technology, manufacturing, and installation methods are constantly evolving. Implementation of utility scale BESS in Gardiner will be challenging.
The Gardiner Town Board is currently drafting BESS law for public review and comment. To be most effective, they need our feedback.
In Consideration:
We need to be energy resilient and independent
We lead, not follow
Let Gardiner’s Comprehensive Plan and Natural Resource Inventory be our Guide
Safety cannot be compromised
The effort must be bi-partisan
Gardiner is our home - we need to protect it
We believe that a law addressing BESS with a clear legislative history showing that the town considered a range of alternatives and selected a regulated, non-exclusionary approach, is the best way moving forward.
In our case, the Gardiner Comprehensive Plan and the Natural Resource Inventory provide an established baseline and framework for the town's planning basis for protecting public health, safety, welfare, scenic resources, natural systems, agricultural lands, environment, community character, and land use compatibility.
This process would yield a reasonable, fair, and legally sufficient law for the Town of Gardiner, and ideally one that would ensure Gardiner maintains the rights to home rule.
That home rule is currently vulnerable under two proposed state bills.
This is 12525
This is 12525
A call to action:
Two New York State bills are proposed by the State legislature under the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) that could grant authority to the State to bypass local siting and permitting for BESS installations. Currently this proposed legislation would not affect “all standalone BESS.” They would be subject to local permitting authority.
However, “BESS paired with large-scale (at or above 25MW) renewable generators are subject to ORES permitting, whereby local laws can be evaluated by ORES for potential exemptions based on burdensomeness.”
In these cases, Gardiner could lose oversight over these projects if the bills are passed.
Contact your New York State ASSEMBLY AND SENATE TO VOICE YOUR CONCERNS.
In addition to contacting your State Senate and Assembly to voice your concerns, the Town of Gardiner is being proactive in writing BESS law, and you are part of that process.
Please see these additional resource Links
We’re making routine updates to provide resources for your education and awareness on this important issue.
Please help us with comments, questions, and action.
