News
Hecate Energy Updates Greene County Solar Proposal; Integrating Community Feedback
- Footprint Reduced 55% to Support Agricultural and Environmental Uses -
Coxsackie, NY—Developers of the Greene County Solar Facility (Greene County Solar) announced today that they have updated the project site plan to address local interests. The revised plan reduces the project’s total footprint from 890 acres to approximately 400 acres - a 55 percent decrease in the project’s size.
The smaller footprint will allow for larger buffer zones between the solar farm and its neighbors, preserving a significant portion of land for agricultural and avian use.
Under the revised plan, Greene County Solar will continue to provide 50 megawatts of emissionfree, renewable, electric generating capacity. It is expected to produce about 93,000 megawatthours of electricity per year—enough to supply about 13,000 average New York homes.
The proposed revised site plan is part of the Preliminary Scoping Statement (PSS) submitted on May 29, 2018 by developer Hecate Energy as part of New York State’s Article 10 electric generating facility permitting process. The PSS contains the company’s proposal and identifies information needed for the preparation of a complete application, such as proposed studies the company plans to conduct in support of its application.
“Since first presenting this project at February’s informational open house, we have been gathering feedback from our neighbors and other stakeholders within the community. This proposed revised site plan and the accompanying proposed studies are the result of listening to the community and getting input from New York State’s environmental and technical experts,” said Gabe Wapner, Hecate Energy’s Director of Development. “Our revised project plan presents a balanced, sustainable design that minimizes impacts on neighbors, preserves environmental and agricultural resources, and delivers the clean, renewable energy we all need.”
A proposed comprehensive set of studies is also detailed within the PSS. Hecate Energy estimates these studies will take approximately six months, after which a formal application will be submitted to the New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment.
“New York’s Article 10 process places strong emphasis on the pre-application period so developers may connect with communities to hear concerns and mitigate impacts to create win-win projects,” continued Wapner. “This update meets those objectives. We are enthusiastic about this refined design and the significant environmental, economic and energy benefits this project will deliver to the people of Greene County and New York State.”
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About the Greene County Solar Facility
The Greene County Solar Facility (Hecate Greene) is a proposed 50-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) solar facility utilizing photovoltaic panels mounted on low profile racking structures. The project is located in the southeastern quadrant of the Town of Coxsackie, NY, approximately 25 miles south of Albany. Once operational, the project is expected to produce about 93,000 megawatt-hours of electricity per year—enough to supply about 13,000 average New York homes.
About Hecate Energy
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with offices in California, Connecticut, Ohio, and Tennessee. Hecate Energy is a developer of solar power plants, wind-power plants, and energy storage solutions. Founded in 2012 by a team of energy industry veterans who have worked together for more than 20 years, Hecate Energy’s team members have developed and contracted over 1,000 megawatts of solar projects across the United States, including several projects in New York and the Northeastern United States.