DPS Announces Approval of Three Renewable Energy Projects

ALBANY - The New York State Department of Public Service (Department) today announced the Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES) has issued final siting permits for three renewable energy generation projects that will provide enough emissions-free electric power for about 116,000 average-sized homes.

The ORES-issued siting permits will allow for the development and operation of Fort Covington Solar, a 250 megawatt (MW) solar array in the Town of Fort Covington in Franklin County; Yellow Barn Solar, a 160-MW solar array in the towns of Groton and Lansing in Tompkins County; and North Seneca Solar, a 90-MW solar array in the towns of Waterloo and Junius in Seneca County. These projects will create good-paying jobs, invest in crucial infrastructure, and increase tax revenues for local schools and other community priorities through tax and other community agreements.

"We are very pleased to announce the latest investments in solar technology," said Department CEO Rory M. Christian. "These important project approvals demonstrate we are strengthening our commitment to improve grid reliability and build clean energy. These three projects join the more than 30 projects that New York has approved over the last few years. This is a testament to New York's commitment to sustainability, affordability, and resiliency."

Together, the Fort Covington, Yellow Barn and North Seneca solar facilities will contribute a combined 500 MW of clean, renewable energy to New York's electric grid while offsetting nearly 425,000 metric tons of CO2.

According to the developers, these three projects will create economic benefits for the host communities.

• Fort Covington Solar will provide $1.25 million in electric utility bill credits to the town residents over a 10-year period in addition to funding improvements to the Fort Covington Fire Department as well as Rainbow Park;
• Yellow Barn Solar will provide $80,000 in utility bill credits annually to the towns of Groton and Lansing;
• North Seneca Solar is expected to pay approximately $23 million in wages and salaries during the construction of the project while providing tax payments totaling millions of dollars to the towns of Junius and Waterloo and the Waterloo Central School District in the first 25 years of project operations.

These three projects are anticipated to create a total of nearly 600 peak jobs during construction. New York State has approved 31 large-scale solar and wind projects since 2021, including 27 permitted by ORES, which was created to accelerate permitting for renewable energy generation, and four approved by the NYS Siting Board under Article 10, the statute that governed solar and wind projects over 25-MW prior to the creation of ORES. The 31 permitted facilities represent 4.2 gigawatts of new clean, renewable energy.

The new solar facilities will each consist of the solar array and associated support equipment, along with an interconnection substation, fencing, access roads, and an operations and maintenance building. Fort Covington Solar will interconnect to the New York Power Authority (NYPA) 345 kilovolt (kV) line HW1 from Haverstock substation to Willis E substation; Yellow Barn Solar will interconnect to the New York State Electric & Gas Company's (NYSEG) 115 kV transmission line between the Milliken and Etna substations; and North Seneca will interconnect into the National Grid Hooks Road - Elbridge 115kV #7 transmission line.

The projects were approved in less than the one-year timeframe provided by statute, and were issued after a thorough, timely, and transparent review process that included public comment periods and hearings.

ORES Executive Director Zeryai Hagos said, "New York has now permitted more than 4 gigawatts of clean, renewable energy since 2021, a monumental achievement. ORES will continue to address New York's growing needs for new, clean energy and a modernized grid, while being responsive to community feedback and protecting the environment."

ORES's decision to approve permitting these facilities follows a detailed and transparent review process with robust public participation to ensure the proposed project meets or exceeds the requirements of Article VIII of the New York State Public Service Law and its implementing regulations. The Fort Covington Solar application was deemed complete on February 11, 2025, and a draft permit was issued by ORES on April 14, 2025; the Yellow Barn Solar application was deemed complete on October 15, 2024, and a draft permit was issued by ORES on December 16, 2024; and the North Seneca Solar application was deemed complete on January 13, 2025, and a draft permit was issued by ORES on March 13, 2025. These solar power projects meaningfully advance New York's clean energy goals while establishing the state as a paradigm for efficient, transparent, and thorough siting permitting process of major renewable energy facilities.

New York State's Climate Agenda

New York State's climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.

Today's decisions may be obtained by going to the Department's Documents section of the website at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Numbers 23-02990 (Fort Covington); 23-02986 (Yellow Barn) or 23-02974 (North Seneca) in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number". Many libraries offer free Internet access. Commission documents may also be obtained from the Commission's Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500). If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.

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25097/23-02990; 23-02986; 23-02974