New York Approves 602 Megawatts of Wind and Solar Projects

The New York Public Service Commission on Sept. 15 approved compliance filings for three major wind and solar projects in upstate New York. The approval allows 602 megawatts worth of clean energy projects to move forward that will benefit the state by reducing the usage of fossil fuels, increasing renewable energy investment, and creating job opportunities. These actions are essential for the projects to initiate construction work or become operational.

The projects are the 242-megawatt Baron Winds, 280-megawatt Wayland Solar, and 80-megawatt Trelina Solar projects. For the wind project, the commission cleared compliance filings related to the site engineering, site security, environmental plan, operation and maintenance facility construction. For the Wayland Solar project, the commission granted approval of submissions related to site engineering, site security, route appraisal, visual mitigation and landscape screening, underground and overhead service line layout, and wetland restoration. Finally, the Trelina solar project received approval for filings related to tree clearance, grading construction work, and temporary construction trailer installation.

New York follows an aggressive clean energy and climate management plan under the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. This legislation requires the state to achieve carbon-free electricity by 2040 and to generate 70 percent renewable energy by 2030. Efforts to implement the law build on the state’s investments in clean energy including $33 billion in large renewable and transmission projects, $6.8 billion in building emissions reductions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, and $1 billion for clean transportation.

The state has also taken steps to preserve the existing renewable energy resources. Recently, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority issued its third solicitation under Competitive Tier 2, a large-scale renewable energy procurement program aimed to maximize the contributions and potential of the state’s existing resources. The proposals, due Sept. 15, targeted privately-owned hydropower and land-based wind generators that entered commercial operation prior to Jan. 1, 2015. The agency will contract with awarded generators for the purchase of renewable energy certificates.