According to PV Magazine, a $950 million contract to build the state’s largest solar farm has been announced, and construction has begun. Greenbacker Renewable Energy won the contract to build the 500-megawatt facility in Genesee County. Work has already begun, and the project is set to go live in 2026.
The scheme is one of 23 major projects approved by New York State Governor Kathy Hochul to generate 2.3 gigawatts of clean energy by December 2024. The Empire State intends to source 70% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030.
Solar energy, the country’s fastest-growing renewable energy source, will play an important role in realizing that ambition. According to the US Energy Information Administration, solar energy capacity is expected to increase by 38% from 2023 to 2024.
Within five years, the solar farm will help New York move up from eighth to fifth in the country in terms of solar energy. While New York has consistently ranked among the top solar states in the United States, it is still far behind the top three. California, Texas, and Florida have the most capacity, while Nevada is the pound-for-pound solar leader.
Rooftop solar panels are increasingly popular in the United States, regardless of political affiliation. Solar energy has significant environmental and economic benefits, so there is something for everyone.
The main barrier for most people is the initial cost, but there are state and federal incentives to help with this. EnergySage provides some useful tools to get started.
Large infrastructure projects, such as the one built by Greenbacker, combined with small-scale home improvements will go a long way toward promoting clean energy in the US.
Greenbacker’s CEO, Charles Wheeler, stated about the transaction, “We’re proud to be both the owner of the largest solar energy project in the state’s history and a driving force in accelerating its ambitious clean energy goals.”
