New York Approves Construction of 500MW Cider Solar Farm

Credit:Hecate Energy

The New York Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Transmission (ORES) has granted approval for the construction of the 500MW Cider Farm, a joint project between Hecate Energy and Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company.

In 2024, Greenbacker finalized its acquisition of the Cider Solar Farm project from Hecate, becoming the long-term owner and operator of the facility. The company secured $950 million in financing to support the project's acquisition, construction, and operation. Once completed, the Cider Solar Farm is set to become the largest solar energy project in the state of New York.

The utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) solar project will cover approximately 2,500 acres in Genesee County, near the towns of Elba and Oakfield. The project is expected to deliver significant regional benefits and contribute to New York's renewable energy targets.

Harrison Luna, Project Developer at Hecate Energy, stated, “As New York's largest solar energy project, Cider Solar Farm will be instrumental in delivering reliable, emissions-free power to meet the state's rising electricity demand. We are proud to work alongside Greenbacker in bringing this landmark project to life and contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable energy for New York.”

The project, which is expected to generate 920,000 MWh of electricity annually, enough to power over 120,000 New York households, is also expected to create hundreds of construction jobs. Efforts to recruit the craft labor workforce will prioritize Western New York residents.

Hecate and Greenbacker have entered into Host Community Benefit Agreements with both Elba and Oakfield, committing to invest in local development and creating job opportunities in the region. These agreements ensure that the towns will directly benefit from the project's long-term economic impact.

This marks the third collaboration between Greenbacker and Hecate on clean energy projects, further solidifying their partnership. Charles Wheeler, CEO of Greenbacker, said, “Greenbacker is thrilled to partner once again with Hecate to bring this landmark solar farm to life – a true milestone in advancing New York's clean energy future.”

The project received siting approval from ORES in 2022 and has now completed the necessary pre-construction filings. Construction is expected to begin soon, with the project contributing significantly to New York's clean energy goals.

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