GHG Emissions, Solar  -  March 15, 2023

NY Signs for Two Renewable Energy Development Sites

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced agreements on two municipally-owned sites for potential renewable energy development. Under these memorandums of understanding (MOU), NYSERDA through its Build-Ready Program will work closely with Tompkins County in the Southern Tier and Orange County in the Hudson Valley, to explore the feasibility of developing renewable energy projects on underutilized lands. 

The announcements represent progress under the State’s Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act and advances New York’s goal for 70% of the state’s electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030 under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

"New York is ramping-up its penetration of renewable energy by cultivating a portfolio of underutilized sites that offer municipalities and the private sector opportunities to partner with us on strategic project siting and development,” said Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, NYSERDA, in a statement. “These agreements with Tompkins County and Orange County will help us to better understand the viability of these landfills for potentially hosting a large-scale solar project, and we look forward to ongoing collaboration with municipalities across the state to realize clean energy projects that reflect the interests of local communities.”

The first MOU was executed by NYSERDA and Tompkins County  - the 112-acre site will potentially host a large-scale renewable solar energy project on the capped landfill. This potential project would advance progress towards the County’s goal of net-zero emissions and transitioning from grid-supplied electricity generated outside Tompkins County to local renewable generation. 

The second MOU was executed by NYSERDA with Orange County -  located on the County’s former landfill, which closed in 1992, the municipally-owned site spans 420 acres and is under consideration for hosting a large-scale solar project. This potential project would complement other efforts the County has made for new clean energy projects including the existing solar array at the Emergency Operations Center, the combined heat and power renovations at the Valley View facility, geothermal design with ground source heat pumps for the proposed Medical Examiner’s building, light-emitting diode (LED) lighting installation in various county buildings, and the County’s first three electric vehicle charging stations which are expected to be installed later this year. 

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