Principled Advocacy
for New York's
Changing Landscape
O'Toole Law Group PLLC is a boutique law firm specializing in Renewable Energy, Land Use, Zoning, and Municipal Law — guiding communities, municipalities, and developers through New York State's most complex siting challenges.
Focused Expertise in New York Law
Renewable Energy
Article VIII · ORES
Navigating New York's complex renewable energy siting framework — from community-scale solar to transmission lines and offshore wind facilities. We represent municipalities, developers, and stakeholders in State Siting Proceedings under PSL Article VII and VIII. We guide municipalities and developers through the local siting process for community scale projects.
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Land Use
SEQRA · Approvals · Article 78
Securing special use permits, variances, and site plan approvals for developers, municipalities, and individuals. We guide clients through the siting process throughout New York State.
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Zoning
Local Law · Variances · Overlay Districts
Analyzing zoning codes, drafting local laws, and representing clients before zoning and planning boards. From variance applications to incentive zoning, we provide clear guidance on New York's zoning landscape.
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Municipal Law
General & Special Counsel
Serving as General Counsel and Special Counsel to municipalities across New York State. We advise boards, draft legislation, and represent towns in energy siting proceedings and Article 78 challenges.
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A Boutique Firm Built on Deep Expertise
O'Toole Law Group PLLC is a boutique law firm located in Rochester, New York, serving clients from Buffalo to Long Island and everywhere in between. Our practice is focused on the intersection of energy, environment, land use, and local government — areas where the stakes for communities are highest.
Principal attorney Bridget O'Toole brings over a decade of experience representing municipalities, community groups, developers, and individuals in New York's most complex land use and energy proceedings.
New York's Energy Transition
Demands Specialized Counsel
New York State has set some of the nation's most ambitious clean energy goals — 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% zero-emission electricity by 2040 under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). Achieving those targets means siting hundreds of large-scale wind, solar, transmission lines and offshore energy facilities across the state, often in communities that have legitimate concerns about impacts on their land, environment, and quality of life.
O'Toole Law Group has been at the center of this transition. Principal attorney Bridget O'Toole has represented municipalities, community organizations, and stakeholders in more than 30 energy siting proceedings before the New York State Public Service Commission and Office of Renewable Energy Siting — spanning wind farms, utility-scale solar arrays, offshore wind transmission, and high-voltage transmission lines from Long Island to the North Country. Growing up in a rural community, Bridget understands the challenges and changes coming to New York's agricultural communities.
Regulatory Frameworks We Navigate
Wind Energy Siting
Representation in Article 10, 94-c, and Article VIII proceedings for onshore wind facilities, including party status, intervenor fund requests, adjudicatory hearings, and settlement negotiations.
Solar Energy Siting
Counsel for municipalities and community groups in utility-scale solar proceedings under Article 10, Article VIII and 94-c, from initial application review through final permit conditions.
Offshore Wind & Transmission
Representation before the PSC in Article VII proceedings for offshore wind export cables and high-voltage transmission lines, protecting the interests of coastal communities and fishing associations.
Municipal Energy Counsel
Advising towns on Home Rule authority, drafting wind and solar zoning laws, negotiating PILOT and Host Community Agreements, and representing municipalities in state siting proceedings.
Small-Scale & Community Solar
Navigating local permitting, SEQRA review, special use permits, and zoning approvals for projects under 25 MW that remain subject to local land use jurisdiction.
Community Advocacy
Representing neighbors, civic organizations, and preservation groups who have concerns about proposed energy projects — ensuring their voices are heard in state and local proceedings.
Experienced. Dedicated. Effective.
Bridget O'Toole, Esq.
Admitted · New York State
Admitted in New York State and multiple federal courts, Bridget represents municipalities, community groups, and businesses in renewable energy siting, land use, zoning, and municipal law matters.
Jennifer Spencer
Energy & Land Use Support
Jennifer provides essential support across the firm's practice areas, assisting with case preparation, client communications, and document management in energy and land use matters.
Latest from the Firm
Analysis and commentary on New York energy, land use, and municipal law — from the attorneys at O'Toole Law Group PLLC.
Navigating Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Safety: A Guide for Municipal Regulations
As New York accelerates its clean energy transition, municipalities face the challenge of regulating Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) — distinguishing life-safety requirements governed by fire and building codes from land use protections managed through zoning. Understanding UL 9540 and UL 9540A testing standards is essential for drafting legally defensible local laws that protect communities while accommodating necessary energy infrastructure.
Read Full ArticleState Supreme Court Strikes Down New DEC Wetlands Regulations: What It Means for Municipalities and Developers
On April 8, 2026, the Albany County Supreme Court annulled the DEC's new freshwater wetlands regulations (6 NYCRR Part 664) in their entirety, finding that the agency failed to comply with SEQRA before the rules took effect. The 2022 legislative amendments that triggered the new rules remain in force — but the most burdensome regulatory choices are gone, at least for now. Here is what municipalities and developers need to know.
Read Full ArticleReady to Discuss Your Legal Needs?
Whether you are a municipality navigating a renewable energy project, a developer seeking land use approvals, or a community group with concerns about a proposed development, we are here to help.