The New York State Department of Public Service announced that the Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES) has issued final siting permits for three new solar energy projects. These projects are expected to supply emissions-free electricity to approximately 116,000 homes in the state.
The approved projects include Fort Covington Solar, a 250-megawatt facility in Franklin County; Yellow Barn Solar, a 160-megawatt facility in Tompkins County; and North Seneca Solar, a 90-megawatt facility in Seneca County. The Department stated that these initiatives will bring economic benefits such as job creation, infrastructure investment, and increased tax revenues for local communities.
“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.”
Combined, the three solar facilities will add 500 megawatts of renewable energy capacity to New York’s electric grid and are projected to offset nearly 425,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Developers have outlined specific community benefits for each project. Fort Covington Solar will provide $1.25 million in electric utility bill credits to town residents over ten years and fund improvements for local services such as the fire department and park facilities. Yellow Barn Solar plans to offer $80,000 annually in utility bill credits to Groton and Lansing. North Seneca Solar is expected to generate about $23 million in wages during construction and deliver millions of dollars in tax payments over its first 25 years of operation.
Construction on these sites is anticipated to create around 600 peak jobs across all three locations.
Since 2021, New York State has approved 31 large-scale solar and wind projects totaling about 4.2 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity. Of these, ORES permitted 27 under its accelerated process created specifically for renewable generation siting.
Each new solar site will include an array with support equipment, an interconnection substation, fencing, access roads, and an operations building. Fort Covington Solar will connect via the New York Power Authority’s high-voltage transmission line; Yellow Barn Solar will tie into a New York State Electric & Gas Company line; North Seneca Solar will link up with National Grid infrastructure.
The review process for these projects was completed within the statutory one-year timeframe after public comment periods and hearings.
“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,” said ORES Executive Director Zeryai Hagos.
ORES based its decisions on detailed reviews with public participation to ensure compliance with Article VIII of the Public Service Law. The applications were deemed complete between October 2024 and February 2025 before draft permits were issued several months later.
These efforts support New York State’s broader climate agenda targeting an emissions-free economy by mid-century through investments across multiple sectors including energy production.
Details on today’s decisions can be found by searching case numbers on www.dps.ny.gov or by contacting the Commission directly at their Albany office or via phone.
