New York Approves 343 Megawatts of Wind and Solar to Boost Clean Energy and Local Investment

The New York State Department of Public Service on April 22 announced that the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission issued final siting permits to AES Clean Power for three renewable energy projects totaling 343 megawatts across Clinton, Jefferson, and Lewis counties. The approvals mark a continued push to expand clean generation capacity while channeling investment into host communities and grid infrastructure.

The portfolio includes the 107.5-megawatt Altona Wind project in the Town of Altona, the 110.5-megawatt Clinton Wind project in the Town of Clinton, and the 125-megawatt Sugar Maple Solar project spanning the Towns of Croghan and Wilna. Collectively, the facilities are expected to power more than 60,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions by over 500,000 tons annually. The agency completed its review within the required one-year timeline following public comment and hearings. The approvals include enforceable conditions governing construction, operation, and decommissioning to ensure full site restoration.

The Altona and Clinton wind projects will replace aging facilities with fewer, more efficient turbines, increasing total capacity by 20-megawatt to 218-megawatt. Commercial operation is expected in 2028 for Clinton and 2029 for Altona. Together, the wind facilities are projected to generate over $80 million in local economic benefits through tax payments and host community agreements, along with $2.18 million in utility bill credits over 10 years. Construction and operations are expected to support more than 100 jobs, with a focus on local hiring.

The Sugar Maple Solar project incorporates a 20-megawatt battery system and will interconnect with existing transmission infrastructure. Project design revisions reduced land and visual impacts while enabling agricultural use across the site. The facility is expected to create over 400 construction jobs and contribute nearly $15 million in local payments, alongside $625,000 in customer bill credits.

With these approvals, the ORES has now permitted 35 large-scale projects totaling more than 5.1 gigawatts, reinforcing the state’s strategy to scale clean energy while balancing community and environmental considerations.