Solar just one aspect of state's historic renewable energy investment

Oct. 28—Earlier this week, when Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul announced the largest state investment in renewable energy in U.S. history, solar power figured into the plan.

The conditional awards announced on Tuesday include three offshore wind and 22 land-based renewable energy projects in the state totaling 6.4 gigawatts of clean energy, enough to power 2.6 million New York homes and deliver approximately 12% of New York's electricity needs once completed.

In a non-community solar project included in the announcement, AES will build Riverside Solar — a 100-megawatt facility in the towns of Lyme and Brownville. In January, Riverside Solar was issued a siting permit by the state Office of Renewable Energy Siting, marking one of the final milestones in the permitting process.

The project will span approximately 1,000 acres with plans to connect on National Grid's Lyme tap off the Thousand Island/Coffeen 115 KV line.

AES says the project, on roughly 650 acres north of Route 12E, Chaumont, is anticipated to positively impact the environment and the local economy by reducing carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 133,000 metric tons each year.

That's the equivalent of powering approximately 24,000 homes' electricity use per year, and it's expected to "produce significant tax revenue and other economic benefits."

It will also require more than 150 construction jobs.

"AES has been an active member in the community and the county, as we have been developing this project over the last several years, including establishing meaningful partnerships and funding impactful organizations and initiatives through social impact partnerships in the community such as the Lyme Free Library, United Way Watertown, IBEW local 910 and the Jefferson County Workforce Development Board's Career Jam," said Mario Rice, development manager for AES.

Earlier plans for the Riverside project included a battery component, but an AES spokesperson said that aspect has been dropped.

AES will distribute $50,000 of energy credits per year related to the Riverside project, for a total of $500,000 to local residents, (in Brownville and Lyme), which will be automatically reflected on their energy bills.

Lyme Town Supervisor Terry Countryman said Riverside Solar was first discussed and planned for about four years ago. This week's approval by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, NYSERDA, and awarding the project to AES was a key step. But he noted another step that may need to occur.

"A representative from AES made me aware that the next step in that project before it can start is to have room on the transmission grid," Countryman said. "The understanding, he told me, is that it's his belief that there isn't room there now without an upgrade."

An AES spokesperson confirmed that "next step" to the Times: "Completion of the approved PSC transmission upgrades are needed to allow for the Riverside solar project to deliver the full capacity."

Countryman said he was "certainly" glad to hear that the Riverside project no longer has a battery storage option. In late July, a lithium-ion battery fire at the Convergent solar facility in Chaumont, town of Lyme, stressed area fire departments and other first responders. The fire burned for days before it was extinguished, causing evacuations and air quality alerts. Later, a Connecticut company pulled its application to construct a solar project along the Chaumont River after facing fierce opposition.

"That needs to be addressed before going forward," Countryman said. "There was a lot of failures that happened with the Chaumont fire. There were several things that broke down. We didn't get the warning we should have from the system and there wasn't the resources in place to deal with it, or the knowledge, to deal with it, initially."

Countryman said that a NYSERDA official called him this week about the upgraded status of the Riverside project and left phone numbers to contact if he had any questions or concerns. "They've been very accommodating and concerned about how we feel about it locally," he said.

SUNEAST IN GOUVERNEUR

In regards to solar, the Tuesday announcement on the state's investment in renewable energy also included the SunEast Morris Solar project, in which "Cordelio Power will build a 19.99-megawatt solar facility in the town of Gouverneur." SunEast Development is a privately held solar energy company that has partnered with leaders in the renewable energy industry. The announcement didn't indicate if the project involved community solar or not. NYSERDA and Cordelio did not respond to inquiries by press time.

Gouverneur Town Supervisor David Spilman said he was unaware of the project before a NYSERDA official called him earlier this week. "It's funny. You called me and the very next call I missed was a lady from NYSERDA giving me a heads-up about this," Spilman said. "Before this, I had no information at all."

Spilman said SunEast Morris Solar appears to be on private land "over more than one location." He said the town hasn't been approached in regards to its planning. "I'd love to know," he said.

He added that the NYSERDA official wanted to know if Gouverneur had a local law in place in regards to solar. "And we do," he said. "So we're kind of ahead of the game there."

The town of Gouvernuer, Spilman said, has six other solar sites.

Tuesday's announcement about the state's investment in renewable energy supports progress toward New York's goal for 70% of the state's electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030 — and nine gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035 — on the path to a zero-emission grid as required by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

"An investment of this magnitude is about more than just fighting climate change — we're creating good-paying union jobs, improving the reliability of our electric grid, and generating significant benefits in disadvantaged communities," Gov. Hochul said in a news release. "Today, we are taking action to keep New York's climate goals within reach, demonstrating to the nation how to recalibrate in the wake of global economic challenges while driving us toward a greener and more prosperous future for generations to come."

In addition to the two solar projects, related renewable energy projects announced Tuesday for the north country as part of the plan:

—North Country Wind: Terra-Gen Development Company, LLC will build a 298.2-megawatt wind facility in the towns of Burke and Chateaugay, Franklin County.

—Valcour Altona Windpark: AES will repower a 97.5-megawatt wind facility in the Town of Altona, Clinton County.

—Valcour Chateaugay Windpark: AES will repower a 106.5-megawatt Wind facility in the Town of Chateaugay, Franklin County.

—Valcour Clinton Windpark: AES will repower a 100.5-megawatt Wind facility in the Town of Clinton, Clinton County.

—Valcour Ellenburg Windpark: AES will repower an 81-megawatt Wind facility in the Town of Ellenburg, Clinton County.

In 2021, AES Corp. purchased Valcour Wind Energy.

"This award that will ensure we can continue operation of Altona, Clinton, Ellenburg and Chateaugay wind projects is a tremendous win," said Emily Taylor, AES development manager. "Turbines have been successfully incorporated into the landscape of these towns and support the area's rural culture, agricultural tradition and community institutions. AES looks forward to continuing to be a good partner to our communities as the benefits of these projects are extended for future generations."