New York state has long been a leader in renewable energy, but will soon another leap forward with the announcement of renewable energy projects totaling 6.2 GW.

The announced projects include three offshore wind and 22 land-based renewable energy projects including hydropower and solar energy. The combined projects are expected to deliver enough clean energy to power 2.6 million New York homes, meeting approximately 12% of the state’s electricity needs. In addition to offshore wind projects, the land-based project include 14 new solar facilities, six wind repowering projects, one new wind project, and one return-to-service hydroelectric project.

The largest of the solar projects is actually not located in New York, but the electricity produced will feed the New York grid. The 401.6 MW Mineral Basin Solar facility will be built by Swift Current Energy in the Townships of Girard and Goshen, Penn.

The next largest solar facility will be the 200 MW Hemlock Ridge Solar project to be built by AES in towns of Barre and Shelby, Orleans County.

Other solar projects, by region, include:

Central New York

  • Oxbow Hill Solar: Cypress Creek Renewables will build a 140 MW solar facility in Fenner, Madison County.

Finger Lakes

  • Gravel Road Solar: Delaware River Solar will build a 128 MW solar facility in Tyre and Seneca Falls, Seneca County.
  • Hatchery Solar: VC Renewables, LLC will build a 19.99 MW solar facility in Caledonia, Livingston County.
  • SunEast Hampton Corners Solar: Cordelio Power will build a 19.99 MW solar facility in Groveland, Livingston County.
  • SunEast Niagara Solar: Cordelio Power will build a 19.99 MW solar facility in Caledonia, Livingston County.
  • White Creek Solar, LLC: AES will build a 135 MW solar facility in York and Leicester, Livingston County.

Mohawk Valley

  • SunEast Millers Grove Solar: Cordelio Power will build a 19.99 MW solar facility in Schuyler, Herkimer County.

North Country

  • Riverside Solar: AES will build a 100 MW solar facility in Lyme and Brownville, Franklin County.
  • SunEast Morris Solar: Cordelio Power will build a 19.99 MW solar facility in Gouverneur, St. Lawrence County.

Southern Tier

  • Clear View Solar: VC Renewables, LLC will build a 19.99 MW Solar facility in Cohocton, Steuben County.
  • Stonewall Solar: Nexamp will build a 145 MW solar facility co-located with 20 MW of energy storage in Meredith, Delaware County.

Western New York

  • Somerset Solar: Somerset Solar, LLC will build a 125 MW solar facility in Somerset, Niagara County.

The historic announcement moves New York further toward its goal for 70% of the state’s electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030, on the path to a zero-emission grid as required by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Following these awards, New York will now have enough operating, contracted, and under development renewable energy projects to supply 79% of the state’s 2030 electricity needs with renewable energy.

In the announcement the Governor emphasized that these projects will bring high-quality jobs to the state, plus nearly $300 million in commitments to Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) and Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses (SDVOBs).

Clean energy generated by all the announced facilities is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 9.4 million metric tons annually, or the equivalent of taking more than 2 million cars off the road every year. Public health benefits will result from reduced exposure to harmful pollutants. The announcement also includes over $3.5 billion in commitments to disadvantaged communities made by developers.