Elected leaders from across Nassau County rallied on April 1 at Barnum Island Fire District headquarters in opposition to New York state’s RAPID Act — a law they argue grants Albany unchecked power to fast-track massive energy projects without adequate local input or safety guidelines.
The gathering included event brought together the Hempstead, North Hempstead and Oyster Bay town supervisors, Don Clavin, Jen DeSena and Joseph Saladino. Alongside them, Frank Bettineschi, commissioner of the Barnum Island Fire District and a former Island Park Fire Department chief, lent his voice to the outcry against what the officials described as an unprecedented encroachment on local autonomy.
“We’re here because the RAPID Act is a dangerous overreach that strips away local voices and bypasses the rigorous safety standards our communities depend on,” Clavin said. “Albany has basically sidestepped local zoning when it comes to energy issues, and is putting in effect ways to circumvent the voices of the residents.”
The state legislation, the Renewable Action Through Project Interconnection and Deployment Act, which was enacted last April, is intended to streamline the environmental review and permitting process for major renewable energy and electric transmission facilities in New York to expedite the state’s transition to clean energy.
Officials argue that the act effectively removes local zoning oversight and forces communities to contend with large-scale energy projects — including high-voltage power lines and battery energy storage facilities — without their consent.
The RAPID Act consolidates environmental reviews and permits for major energy projects under the Office of Renewable Energy Siting, but local leaders argue that this streamlining comes at the expense of public safety and community engagement.
“Albany designed this to once again override our local control,” Saladino said. “They want the bureaucrats in Albany to have the final say, not the people. This is government threatening private property, public safety and the suburban way of life.”
Saladino emphasized that local fire departments, already stretched thin, have expressed serious concerns about the ability to respond to emergencies at these massive installations.
“Our concern is safety,” Bettineschi said. “We don’t know anything about it or have the training to handle the fires. Island Park is becoming a dumping ground. We can’t have that. There are a lot of questions, and before a shovel even goes in the ground, those questions need to be answered.”
Island Park residents and village officials had mobilized against a battery storage facility proposed for the area, which had raised significant concerns about toxicity, fire hazards, and the overall impact on local quality of life. At its Feb. 25 board meeting, the Hempstead Town Board approved a one-year moratorium on the facility, which would have been developed in Island Park, citing public safety concerns. After a hearing on the development, it was clear that the community was vehemently opposed to the project.
“We have residents who expressed legitimate concerns, environmental concerns, management of fire, location concerns,” Clavin said. “We listened to our community, and we put a moratorium in place. This is democracy in action, ensuring that local voices remain front and center.”
Supervisors and civic leaders urged the public to submit comments and join the protest against what they see as a top-down imposition of policy that undermines local decision-making.
“We are facing a David-versus-Goliath battle,” DeSena warned. “Whenever New York City has a problem that they can’t solve, the solution seems to come on the back of Long Island.”
There is a public comment period until April 18, in which all three supervisors said that residents should take part. County officials remain steadfast in their determination to challenge the state’s authority, and have promised to continue fighting for local control over zoning and development decisions, emphasizing that safety and community input cannot be sidelined in the rush to modernize the energy sector.
“Albany fears one thing,” Clavin declared, “and that’s you, the residents. The more your voices are heard, the more they back off and let us keep it local.”
