Lawrence Schillinger | Blogger: July 2016

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Lawrence R. Schillinger

Lawrence R. Schillinger is an environmental attorney and entrepreneur based in Albany, New York. In the mid-1980’s Schillinger served as Counsel for Energy and the Environment to the Speaker of the New York State Assembly. He has served as Environmental Compliance and Government Relations Counsel to the Institute of Scrap Recycling industries (ISRI) New York and Empire Chapters since 1988. Schillinger is also president of Schillinger Environmental Associates, a multi-disciplinary environmental consulting firm, and is the founder and president of Green Recycled Organics LLC, a start-up business in the composting industry. He holds a BA in Environmental Planning from the University of Buffalo and a JD from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Monday, July 18, 2016

Hurdles to New York’s Adoption of Solar Rooftop Panels

Well established as an Albany, New York, attorney, Lawrence Schillinger focuses on issues of government relations and environmental compliance. A longstanding member of the New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV), Lawrence Schillinger chairs the Capital Region chapter of an organization that seeks to address diverse sustainability issues facing state residents and ecosystems.

One major issue New York is currently grappling with is how to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Governor Cuomo’s recently developed Reforming the Energy Vision plan lays out an ambitious goal of reaching 50 percent renewably sourced electricity by 2030, with solar energy a being a vital part of that.

Unfortunately, despite a tax-incentive driven push toward solar that has led to a nearly 600 percent increase in solar adoption since 2011, rooftop panels are not yet common statewide. A major issue identified by NYLCV goes beyond installation costs and involves the sheer number of permit-related obstacles that must be overcome before approval. Permitting steps span the Department of Building, Con Edison, and the fire department. In addition, there are property tax abatement applications that involve an entirely separate process.

About Lawrence Schillinger

A respected Albany, New York, attorney, Lawrence Schillinger has focused on government relations and environmental compliance issues since 1988. He also guides the firm Schillinger Environmental Associates and provides multi-disciplinary consulting services. Lawrence Schillinger additionally guides the composting startup firm Green Recycled Organics as founder and president.

Mr. Schillinger is also active as Capital Region Chapter Chair of the New York League of Conservation Voters. His responsibilities with the organization, which works to preserve clean air and water across geographical regions of New York, encompasses membership in the state board.

Mr. Schillinger completed his bachelor’s degree in environmental planning at the University of Buffalo and graduated magna cum laude. He subsequently earned a juris doctor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Experience in the environmental sphere extends to a past position as Counsel for Energy and the Environment to the New York State Assembly speaker. Lawrence Schillinger enjoys outdoor pursuits such as kayaking, hiking, and camping in his free time.