Governor Hochul Announces 22 Large-Scale Renewable Energy Projects to Deliver Clean, Affordable Energy to New Yorkers

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced awards for 22 large-scale solar and energy storage projects that will deliver enough clean, affordable energy to power over 620,000 New York homes for at least 20 years. As the state's largest land-based renewable energy procurement to date, these projects will spur over $2.7 billion in private investment and create over 3,000 short- and long-term jobs across the state. Today's awards accelerate progress to exceed New York's goal to obtain 70 percent of the state's electricity from renewable sources by 2030 on the path to a zero-emission grid by 2040 as required by Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. These awards will strengthen the state's current pipeline of renewables to power over 66 percent of New York's electricity from renewable sources.

"Today's investments will put us on a path to making New York a greener place to live while also creating new jobs and spurring economic development," Governor Hochul said. "These projects will allow us to not just meet but exceed our goal of obtaining 70 percent of our electricity from renewable resources and will further cement New York as a national leader in the fight against climate change."

The 22 large-scale renewable energy projects by region are:

Capital Region

• Stern Solar: Stern Solar LLC, a CS Energy affiliate, will build a 19.99-megawatt Solar facility in the town of Schaghticoke, Rensselaer County.
• Fort Edward Solar Farm: Fort Edward Solar LLC, a Boralex affiliate, will build a 100-megawatt Solar facility in the towns of Fort Edward and Argyle, Washington County.
• Scotch Ridge Solar: Scotch Ridge Solar LLC, a Nexamp affiliate, will build a 20-megawatt Solar facility in the town of Duanesburg, Schenectady County.
• ELP Stuyvesant Solar: ELP Stuyvesant Solar LLC, an East Light Partners affiliate, will build a 19.99-megawatt Solar facility in the town of Stuyvesant, Columbia County.
• Easton Solar Farm: Easton Solar LLC, a Boralex affiliate, will build a 20-megawatt Solar facility in the town of Easton, Washington County.
• ELP Rotterdam Solar: ELP Rotterdam Solar LLC, an East Light Partners affiliate, will build a 19.99-megawatt Solar facility in the town of Rotterdam, Schenectady County.

Central New York

• Harvest Hills Solar 2: ConnectGen Cayuga County LLC, a ConnectGen affiliate, will build a 100-megawatt Solar facility in the towns of Genoa and Venice, Cayuga County.
• SunEast Scipio Solar: SED NY Holdings LLC, a SunEast Development affiliate, will build an 18-megawatt Solar facility in the town of Scipio, Cayuga County.

Mohawk Valley

• Mill Point Solar 2: ConnectGen Montgomery County LLC, a ConnectGen affiliate, will build a 100-megawatt Solar facility in the town of Glen, Montgomery County.
• SunEast Flat Creek II Solar: SunEast Flat Creek Solar LLC, a SunEast Development affiliate, will build a 100-megawatt Solar facility in the town of Root, Montgomery County.
• Newport Solar Farm: Newport Deerfield Solar LLC, a Boralex affiliate, will build a 130-megawatt Solar facility in the towns of Deerfield, Marcy and Newport, Oneida and Herkimer County.
• Foothills Solar Farm: Foothills Solar LLC, a Boralex affiliate, will build a 40-megawatt Solar facility in the town of Mayfield, Fulton County.
• Columbia Solar Energy Center: Columbia Solar Energy Center LLC, an EDF Renewables affiliate, will build a 350-megawatt Solar facility with 20 megawatts of co-located energy storage in the towns of Columbia and Litchfield, Herkimer County.

North Country

• Rich Road Solar Energy Center: Rich Road Solar Energy Center LLC, an EDF Renewables affiliate, will build a 240-megawatt Solar facility with 20 megawatts of co-located Storage in the town of Canton, St. Lawrence County.
• Fort Covington Solar Farm: Fort Covington Solar LLC, a Boralex affiliate, will build a 250-megawatt Solar facility with 77 megawatts of co-located Storage in the town of Fort Covington, Franklin County.
• Roosevelt Solar: ReneSola Power Holdings LLC, a ReneSola Power affiliate, will build a 19.99-megawatt Solar facility with 2 megawatts of co-located Storage in the town of Massena, St. Lawrence County.
• Moss Ridge Solar: Moss Ridge Solar 1 LLC, a Borrego Solar affiliate, will build a 60-megawatt Solar facility in the town of Dekalb, St. Lawrence County.

Southern Tier

• Yellow Barn Solar: Yellow Barn Solar LLC, a CS Energy affiliate, will build a 160-megawatt Solar facility in the towns of Lansing and Groton, Tompkins County.

Western New York

• Ridge View Solar Energy Center: Ridge View Solar Energy Center, LLC, an EDF Renewables affiliate, will build a 350-megawatt Solar facility with 20 megawatts of co-located Storage in the town of Hartland, Niagara County.
• Bear Ridge Solar: Bear Ridge Solar LLC, a Cypress Creek Renewables affiliate, will build a 100-megawatt Solar facility in the town of Cambria and Pendleton, Niagara County.
• Alfred Oaks Solar: Alfred Oaks Solar LLC, a Northland Power affiliate, will build a 100-megawatt Solar facility with 20 megawatts of co-located Storage in the town of Alfred, Allegany County.
• York Run Solar: York Run Solar LLC, a CS Energy affiliate, will build a 90-megawatt Solar facility in the towns of Busti and Kiantone, Chautauqua County.

Creating New Jobs
New York's advancement of renewable energy has resulted in significant private investment, new jobs, and economic development for local communities in more than 30 counties across the state.

Investing in Marginalized Communities
Through the newly awarded projects, developers have committed nearly $86 million in investments in disadvantaged communities throughout the state, including community-based investments such as new occupational apprenticeships, scholarship programs, and summer camps focused on supporting local disadvantaged communities. Additionally, all developers have committed to ensuring that workers associated with the construction of projects are paid a prevailing wage, a standard set by the NYS Department of Labor.

Prioritizing Environmental Protection
For five consecutive years, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has demonstrated a commitment to implementing the most ambitious clean energy agenda in the United States. With the addition of these new projects, NYSERDA is on the path to building a renewable energy pipeline capable of powering the equivalent of two-thirds of the state. These projects will generate approximately 4.5 million megawatt-hours of renewable energy annually, enough to power over 620,000 homes, and will reduce carbon emissions by more than 2.2 million metric tons annually, equivalent to taking over 492,000 cars off the road every year. Six awarded projects will also be paired with energy storage facilities, comprising 159 megawatts of utility-scale energy storage capacity that will enhance the integration of renewable energy resources onto the electric grid.

Cutting Costs for New Yorkers
The contracts include an index REC structure to help cushion customers against potential spikes in energy prices so that when electricity prices rise Tier 1 program costs go down. The average statewide bill impact for the typical residential customer will be approximately $0.13 per month once the projects are in operation. Total project costs, including a weighted-average all-in development cost of $63.08 per megawatt-hour, further demonstrate that land-based renewables yield competitively priced renewable energy resources with critical benefits toward the achievement of the state's goals. NYSERDA payments under these awards will begin once projects have obtained all required permits and approvals and become operational to power New York.

These newly awarded projects will add to New York's robust pipeline of large-scale renewable energy projects moving towards operation, comprised of over 120 solar, land-based wind and offshore wind projects under development that will deliver over 14,200 megawatts of clean power to the grid when completed - enough to power nearly five and a half million New York homes. The State's commitment to building out new green energy transmission, led by 250 miles of new major upgrades already underway throughout the state, with recently announced Clean Path New York and Champlain Hudson Power Express green energy infrastructure projects, will allow the current pipeline of renewables to power over 66 percent of New York's electricity from renewable sources once operational.

Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO NYSERDA and Climate Action Council Co-Chair said, "With the largest portfolio of projects awarded to date, New York is strengthening an already massive renewable energy pipeline that is positioned to deliver increasing amounts of clean and affordable electricity to thousands of families across the state for years to come. NYSERDA is committed to working with the awarded developers, local host governments and community stakeholders throughout the project development process to responsibly site projects, including the protection of prime agricultural land, and ensure that they cross the finish line on time."

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "New York State's expansion of the green economy continues to progress at a steady pace. These renewable energy projects solidify our position as a pioneer in the global fight against climate change, protects our environmental assets, and stimulates economic revitalization, bringing unprecedented career opportunities for New Yorkers statewide. The New York State Department of Labor stands ready to help connect New Yorkers to quality training opportunities so they can find a career they love in this emerging sector."

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, "New York State is taking action and leading the way nationally in the fight against climate change. These renewable energy projects are a major step towards our State's 2030 renewable energy target and beyond. I'm proud that agriculture is at the table in our environmental efforts, playing an important role as we all work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and preserve our natural resources for future generations."

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and Climate Action Council Co-Chair Basil Seggos said, "With New York's ambitious and nation leading energy goals, we are continuing to deliver real results and making major investments in a wide variety of projects to bring renewable and affordable energy to New Yorkers. These solar and energy storage projects will create thousands of jobs, invest in disadvantaged communities and build on private investment in renewables to help us improve public health, protect our environment, and provide a sustainable future for all New Yorkers."

State Senator Kevin Parker said, "As Chair of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, I am proud of today's announcement. This initiative will provide affordable clean energy which will power over a half of million New Yorker's and while creating green collar jobs for New York State residents. As we work to combat climate change this is a huge win for our state, and I applaud Governor Hochul and NYSERDA for their vision and leadership. I look forward to the expansion of this project."

Executive Director of the Alliance for Clean Energy Anne Reynolds said, "Today's announcement of 22 exciting new clean energy project awards demonstrates that New York State continues its strong commitment to clean our electric grid, and the renewable energy industry is seriously stepping up to develop and invest in in New York. We look forward to the construction jobs and pollution-free power these projects will deliver."

President of the New York League of Conservation Voters Julie Tighe said, "New York State needs clean energy to reduce fossil fuel emissions and achieve the goals in the CLCPA. The Tier 1 renewables award is a tremendous step forward that will help the State not just meet but exceed our renewable goals for 2030 and put us on a path to a zero-emissions grid. Moreover, this shows how committed the renewable energy industry is to invest in the innovative green energy economy that is powering our region into the future."

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan
New York State's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $35 billion in 120 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.6 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting nearly 158,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2020, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.