One of the largest solar projects in NYS is now under expanded state authority.
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) announced on Monday that it has acquired majority ownership of the Rich Road Solar project in Canton.
It’s part of the state’s effort to reduce its reliance on energy that causes climate change.
NYPA now shares 51% of the project with the original developer, EDF Power Solutions, a French private renewable energy company.
This is a 240-megawatt solar project. That’s enough to power around 61,000 homes. The solar panels will be built southwest of Canton and take up around 1,400 acres, spreading out on both sides of Route 11.
NYPA and EDF have been working on this partnership for more than a year. EDF’s Vice President of Development for the U.S. Northeast, Stephane Desdunes, said it’s a win-win situation.
“With NYPA at the table, along with EDF and our deep, deep experience, we have a very well-experienced team when it comes to solar. So I think you have the two right parties at the table.”
New York has an ambitious goal to power 70% of the state’s grid with renewable energy by 2030, and it’s significantly behind. NYPA’s Vice President of Clean Energy and Project Finance, Nick Gonzalez, said this project will nudge the state towards that goal.
“It pairs well with our already existing hydro assets up there, the St. Lawrence Power Project. To us, it’s just another major utility-scale solar project in the state providing significant power throughout the year.”
The solar project will support more than 250 union construction jobs. It’s also expected to increase the local tax base by providing funds directly to the local community in exchange for allowing the project to be built. Through tax agreements, the county, town and school board could all receive long-term benefits.
The Rich Road solar project has been controversial in Canton, with packed public meetings and concerns about its safety, environmental, and visual impacts.
The area where these panels are being built is mostly farmland.
“As a farmer, I cringe every time I hear something like this happen,” said Canton Town Supervisor Jim Smith. “We’re concerned about our dependence on fossil fuels and everything like that. Well, there is a dependence on food also. And it’s not that I’m anti-solar; I just think there are better places for solar.”
Climate energy experts stress that large-scale renewable energy projects like this one are needed across the country to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
Matilda Larson is the Deputy Director for St. Lawrence County’s Planning Office. She said she understands the need for clean renewable energy. But she’s also critical of the project.
“It is going to permanently alter the way that you look at the landscape as you’re traveling up Route 11. You’ll see solar panels as far as the eye can see.”
Larson said the Planning Office had concerns over the solar panels displacing prime dairy farmland, as well as the risk of fire. The Rich Road proposal includes the construction of a 20-megawatt battery energy storage facility. Potential emergencies could put a strain on already limited EMS resources in the area.
Another concern is that the project will require cutting down trees.
“And that, in my mind, does not make any sense whatsoever,” said Larson. “Because the whole point of these energy systems is to sequester carbon, and forest stands do exactly that.”
Desdunes said EDF is fully compliant with federal environmental regulations and is finding as many ways as possible to mitigate harmful impacts to the land and forests.
“We’re doing everything to reduce the acreage of tree clearing that we can. So, working with the engineering teams and the construction teams, looking at experience elsewhere to see what we can do to minimize that. It’s always something that we take to heart.”
Desdunes also said at least 50% of the site will have sheep grazing around the panels to keep it in agricultural use. He said their development team is willing to meet with anybody to address more concerns.
“The moment somebody raised their hand with a concern, the development team was out there meeting with them to understand those concerns. If they were willing to work with us trying to find out, you know, a win-win solution”
The Rich Road solar project is expected to start construction late next year in 2027 and be operational by 2029. It’ll be one of the largest solar projects in New York State.
