ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission approved compliance filings for five major wind and solar farms in upstate New York on Thursday, Aug. 11, a crucial step required before the projects could start construction-related activities or become operational.
“These solar and wind farms that are being built are vital to meet the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s aggressive carbon reduction and clean energy targets to combat climate change,” said Commission Chair Rory M. Christian. “These projects benefit all New Yorkers by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, boosting clean-energy investment, creating clean-energy jobs, and improving our environment.”
The compliance filings, considered among the last steps before a project becomes operational, relate to the following projects: Baron Winds, a 242-megawatt (MW) project in the Towns of Cohocton, Dansville, Fremont, and Wayland, Steuben County; East Point, a 50-MW solar farm in the Town of Sharon, Schoharie County; Hecate Albany, a 40-MW solar farm in Town of Coeymans, Albany County; Trelina, an 80-MW solar farm in Town of Waterloo, Seneca County; and Number Three Wind, a 105.8-MW wind farm in the Towns of Harrisburg, Lowville, and Denmark, Lewis County.
The Baron Winds compliance filings relate to the construction of the operation and maintenance facility, as well as security lighting at the facility’s operations and maintenance building site.
The East Point compliance filings will allow the developer to initiate construction of the collection substation, switchyard, and related interconnection facilities.
The Hecate Albany compliance filings relate to the sound and noise modeling that will be utilized during all phases of construction and operation which are necessary as the developer prepares to initiate civil construction activities at the project substations and interconnection facility.
The Trelina Solar compliance filings are necessary as the developer prepares to initiate tree clearing and grading construction activities.
The Number Three Wind compliance filings relate to Federal Aviation Administration exterior lighting requirements and other requirements needed to construct and operate a utility-scale wind farm in Lewis County, near the military facility at Fort Drum.
These five projects are among the 17 renewable energy projects approved to date by the Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment (Siting Board).
Taken together, solar and wind farm projects approved by the Siting Board will generate more than 2,310 MWs of clean, renewable energy.
