Five Boralex Inc. solar farms totaling 540 MW of technology and 77 MW of storage have been chosen by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) as a part of its 2021 solicitation for utility-scale renewable energy certificates.
Once constructed, the solar farms will generate greater than 1 TWh of solar electrical energy yearly, sufficient to power greater than 141,200 properties.
The chosen initiatives might be positioned throughout upstate New York. Fort Covington Solar Farm is a 250 MW solar farm paired with a 77 MW storage challenge. The solar farm is within the Town of Fort Covington in Franklin County and is estimated to generate 473,040 MWh yearly. Boralex is partnering with Savion LLC to develop the battery energy storage system, which has an anticipated 308 MWh energy storage capability, and might be within the Town of Brookhaven’s hamlet of Yaphank in Suffolk County.
Newport Solar Farm is a 130 MW solar farm within the Town of Deerfield in Oneida County and Town of Newport in Herkimer County, estimated to generate 244,842 MWh yearly.
Fort Edward Solar Farm is a 100 MW solar farm within the Towns of Argyle and Fort Edward in Washington County, estimated to generate 192,720 MWh yearly. Foothills Solar Farm is a 40 MW solar farm within the Town of Mayfield in Fulton County, estimated to generate 75,336 MWh yearly. Easton Solar Farm is a 20 MW solar farm positioned within the Town of Easton in Washington County, estimated to generate 38,369 MWh yearly.
Further, in keeping with the corporate’s environmental, social and governance priorities, Boralex has created the Beyond Renewables Fund to supply help to host and deprived communities. Resources might be given to native companions targeted on STEM schooling and workforce improvement programming for the size of the amenities’ operations.
“This announcement solidifies Boralex’s role in New York State’s energy market during this critical expansion of renewable electricity generation,” says Patrick Decostre, president and CEO of Boralex. “These projects showcase the strategic, creative approaches to solar farm development and community engagement our reputation is built on. I am proud of the Boralex team and their efforts to create clean, competitive energy.”
“The large-scale solar projects announced, including five Boralex projects, bring New York State significantly closer to reaching our clean energy goals and transitioning us toward a zero-emission electricity system,” says Doreen M. Harris, NYSERDA’s president and CEO. “NYSERDA looks forward to working with Boralex to ensure these projects are advanced responsibly and with local input to allow host communities to realize the critical jobs and investments that will come from these solar farms.”
To additional New York State’s purpose of 70% renewable electrical energy by 2030, NYSERDA launched its fifth request for proposals April 2021 for the acquisition of New York Tier-1 Eligible Renewable Energy Certificates (REC). RECs characterize renewable electrical energy coming into the electrical energy grid. Each REC equals the environmental attributes of 1 MWh of electrical energy generated from a renewable supply, resembling solar.
This announcement begins a course of for Boralex and NYSERDA to execute 20-year renewable energy customary agreements for the acquisition of RECs related to the energy manufacturing of the chosen initiatives. The energy related to the RECs have to be consumed inside New York State. The worth of the RECs might be listed to a reference energy and capability worth, which can hedge the initiatives’ service provider energy and capability revenues, obviating a necessity for the initiatives to acquire a separate long run offtake settlement for the sale of energy and capability.
“Fort Edward welcomes today’s news and is excited to be part of an effort to create clean, renewable energy,” states Fort Edward Town Supervisor Timothy Fisher. “We look forward to watching the project’s progress and the economic benefits attached to solar farm development.”
“At Cornell Cooperative Extension, we help our communities address youth development, economic vitality, ecological sustainability, and social well-being through education,” feedback Brian Gilchrist, government director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Washington County, which can obtain funding as a part of Boralex’s neighborhood engagement plans. “Support from Boralex and their Beyond Renewables Fund will allow us to enhance our outreach and expand our programming, and we are excited to see how this partnership will grow over the next years and decades.”
