Rory M. Christian, Chief Executive Officer of the New York State Department of Public Service, announced on April 28 the appointment of Jason Zehr as Interim Executive Director of the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission.
Christian said, “I want to thank Zeryai Hagos for his leadership of ORES over the last year and a half, during which he created a strong foundation upon which the ORES Office can continue to grow. Zeryai has led the Office as it successfully permitted 17 renewable energy generation projects and finalized regulations to support the siting and permitting for electric transmission facilities. While we conduct a nationwide search for a permanent executive director, I have enormous confidence in Mr. Zehr’s ability to ensure all existing project applications continue to proceed apace.”
The Renewable Action Through Project Interconnection and Deployment (RAPID) Act was enacted in 2024 to create a streamlined process for environmental review and permitting major renewable energy and transmission facilities within ORES at DPS. The RAPID Act authorized ORES, in consultation with the Department of Public Service, to develop rules subject to approval by the New York State Public Service Commission.
In February 2026, new Article VIII regulations were approved by the Commission after receiving feedback from consumers, developers, environmental organizations, municipalities, and state agencies. The updated permit review process aims to balance environmental protection with timely decision making while responding to community concerns. The regulations are designed to provide predictability throughout all phases from pre-application through construction planning.
Zehr will oversee ongoing reviews of renewable energy and electric transmission siting applications using these new regulations under Article VIII adopted earlier this year. He currently serves as Deputy Director of Transmission at ORES where he manages policy advice on permitting major electric transmission facilities. Zehr has previously led units responsible for compliance with Articles VII, VIII, and X regarding power generation and transmission projects across New York State.
With two decades’ experience in land-use planning and regulatory compliance in both government and private sectors, Zehr is expected to maintain continuity during this leadership transition until a permanent executive director is selected.
