The New York State Public Service Commission will hold a virtual public statement hearing and procedural conference on November 18, 2025. The session concerns a petition from Oxbow Hill Solar, LLC, which seeks lightened regulation as a wholesale electric generator and a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity under Section 68 of the Public Service Law.
Oxbow Hill Solar filed its petition on August 21, 2025. The company is seeking approval to build and operate a photovoltaic solar energy facility with up to 140 megawatts capacity in the Town of Fenner, Madison County. The proposed solar array would be located within the existing footprint of the Fenner Wind array. It would connect to the state’s electrical grid through a new point at the current Fenner Wind array substation, which links to National Grid’s Onieda-Fenner and Fenner-Cortland 115 kV lines.
Construction and operation of this project are subject to terms set by the Siting Permit issued by the Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES) on July 10, 2025. The Commission clarified that its review will not repeat issues already decided by ORES.
The public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, November 18 at 2:00 p.m. Members of the public may join electronically via meetny-gov.webex.com using event number 2819 254 8641 and password Nov18-2pm. Alternatively, participants can call in at 1-929-251-9612 with access code 2819 254 8641 and phone-in password 66818027.
Individuals who wish to make statements do not need to pre-register. Participants joining online should select their preferred audio system when logging in; those participating by phone can call directly at the time listed above.
Those who want only to listen may do so by calling in with the same credentials. All attendees will be muted upon entry until called upon by the assigned Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). “The ALJ will continue the hearing until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements to submit comments have been made,” according to notice provided by the Commission. Reasonable time limits may be imposed per speaker if necessary, and written comments are encouraged for lengthy statements.
A verbatim transcript will be made part of the official record for this case.
Persons needing accommodations due to disabilities should contact Human Resources Management at the Department of Public Service at (518)473-9463 as soon as possible. TDD users may request sign language interpretation via New York Relay Service at 711. Free language assistance services are available through Department staff at (800)342-3377 for those with difficulty understanding English.
Public comments can also be submitted outside of the hearing process until November 19, referencing Case “25-E-0541.” Comments can be posted online via www.dps.ny.gov after searching for “Case Number” or mailed directly to Honorable Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary of the Public Service Commission at Three Empire State Plaza in Albany; electronic submission is preferred.
Comments submitted according to these guidelines will appear on Department records under public comments for this case.
Additionally, individuals may use a toll-free Opinion Line—(800)335-2120—to leave recorded messages summarizing their views for review by commissioners; these messages are summarized but not transcribed verbatim.
Following the public statement hearing on November 18, a virtual procedural conference will take place as part of the same teleconference session. This meeting aims primarily “to identify any potential parties and provide interested persons an opportunity to present and explain any proposals regarding procedures they believe should be followed.” Discussion topics include whether factual issues raised warrant an evidentiary hearing or other procedural matters.
