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Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 44F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Updated: March 7, 2026 @ 1:59 am
Noble Solar and Storage solar panels line a field near Krum, Texas, March 24, 2025.
A map of the proposed Flint Mine Solar project and its location.
Michael N. Pirrone
Noble Solar and Storage solar panels line a field near Krum, Texas, March 24, 2025.
COXSACKIE — Tree clearing for the planned 100-megawatt Flint Mine Solar farm project has been delayed, according to officials.
The solar farm is slated to be built on 1,638 acres of land privately leased by the developer that spans the towns of Coxsackie and Athens. Once completed, the solar panels will be connected to the electric grid, supplying energy to the grid.
The planned solar site is being developed by Hudson Energy Development, Amber Infrastructure, and DESRI, Greene County Industrial Development Agency Director April Ernst said Wednesday.
The developers tentatively planned to begin clearing trees Monday to make room for the solar panels, but that date has been pushed back, Athens Town Supervisor Michael Pirrone said Friday.
“What I was told is that the Public Service Commission [PSC] and the company were having conversations, that’s my understanding,” Pirrone said. “I was advised that the project would start doing tree-clearing and was waiting for information … and I’ve been advised that it’s been postponed due to discussions between the PSC and the company.”
The Public Service Commission’s Special Assistant for Customer Experience Kim Mashke said the developer decided to delay the tree-clearing plans.
A map of the proposed Flint Mine Solar project and its location.
“The decision to set the initial timing for tree-clearing was determined by the developer, and the decision to delay tree-clearing was also determined by the developer,” Mashke said in a statement Friday. “Any further questions are best directed to the developer.”
DESRI’s Executive Director, Susan Moberg, did not respond to requests for comment Friday.
Ernst said the tree-clearing was was expected to begin March 9.
“We just got an update from Flint Mine Solar; they will be conducting limited tree-clearing activities on site beginning on March 9,” Ernst said in an email Wednesday. “These activities are limited to tree-clearing by hand and are being performed in advance of formal construction to comply with seasonal clearing requirements. Full construction activities for this project are expected to begin later in 2026.”
Ernst did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the delay on Friday.
Coxsackie Town Supervisor Rick Hanse said Friday he had not heard about the project’s delay.
Michael N. Pirrone
“Last I heard was that they were starting the tree-cutting on Monday [March 9],” Hanse said.
The project is expected to generate 175,000-megawatt hours of renewable energy from the sun, which would power about 21,000 homes in Greene County, according to a project description on the Hudson Energy Development website.
The solar farm would be partially located in an area within a habitat of a large quantity of Indiana and northern long-eared bats, Hanse said. Both bat species are on the state endangered list. The bats are set to migrate back to the area between April and May.
“They have a limited window to (prevent) damage to the habitat for bats,” Hanse said. “They move their habitats, so they’d do it before the bats get back so they don’t disturb them. That is all I know.”
Pirrone said he did not know where the bats live.
“I don’t know where the trees are or where the bats live, per se,” Pirrone said. “It could be in every tree in Athens or no bats in Athens.”
The project, which has been in the works for a decade, has already passed the permitting processes in Coxsackie and Athens, and Hanse does not think it will interfere with the scenic views in the town.
“It’s been permitted for over 10 years and they are ready to go,” Hanse said. “It’s not going to be too in your face; they will take advantage of the land’s topography. In the future, maybe this is where electric (power) is going.”
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