ALBANY — The state has announced contracts for renewable-energy projects located across upstate New York, including Central New York, the Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier, and the North Country. Altogether, 23 large-scale, land-based renewable energy projects will provide more than 2.3 gigawatts of clean energy, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Dec. 3. They represent enough to power […]
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ALBANY — The state has announced contracts for renewable-energy projects located across upstate New York, including Central New York, the Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier, and the North Country. Altogether, 23 large-scale, land-based renewable energy projects will provide more than 2.3 gigawatts of clean energy, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Dec. 3. They represent enough to power more than 700,000 homes throughout New York state. The state expects the projects to create more than 2,500 near-term jobs, and generate more than $4.7 billion in private investment while “reinforcing the state’s commitment to the development of clean energy, grid resiliency and economic development,” Hochul’s office said. The contracted awards are the result of the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) 2023 Tier 1 Renewable Energy Standard solicitation. The payments under the contracted projects will only begin once projects are constructed and begin delivering renewable energy to New York after obtaining all required permits and approvals. Several projects have already started construction activities, and the state expects all projects to be operational by 2028, per Hochul’s office. Additionally, New York State will “continue to emphasize and enhance engagements” with the projects’ host communities. NYSERDA offers resources and no-cost technical assistance to help local governments understand how to manage responsible clean-energy development in their communities. That includes step-by-step instructions and tools to guide the implementation of clean energy, permitting processes, property taxes, siting, and zoning. The projects are expected to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent emissions by 2.3 million metric tons annually, the equivalent of removing nearly 350,000 cars from the road; provide public-health benefits resulting from reduced exposure to harmful pollutants; and provide more than $249 million in commitments to disadvantaged communities from community benefit funds, Hochul’s office contends. “Today we celebrate 23 more projects that will deliver clean, sustainable energy to our state’s electric grid,” Doreen Harris, president and CEO of NYSERDA, said in the state’s announcement. “New York continues to provide a reliable market for renewable energy projects, and by facilitating responsible development of these projects, we are protecting our natural resources and creating healthier communities.” The projects will add to New York’s pipeline of large-scale, renewable-energy projects moving toward operation, comprised of 46 solar arrays, land-based wind, hydroelectric, and offshore wind projects under development that will deliver more than 6.3 gigawatts of clean power to the grid; “enough to power 3.7 million New York homes.”