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New York regulators issued a final siting permit for the 100-megawatt Fort Edward Solar Project in Washington County, clearing the way for a utility-scale renewable energy development expected to begin delivering power in 2030.
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State officials said the project is expected to create about 120 full-time equivalent construction jobs, provide more than $14 million in community benefits, and generate utility bill credits for Town of Fort Edward residents.
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Project revisions during review reduced impacts on farmland, wetlands and wildlife habitat, while additional conservation measures and a final net conservation benefit plan will be required before construction begins.
New York regulators issued a final siting permit for the Fort Edward Solar Project, a 100-megawatt solar facility in Washington County that state officials say will support local tax bases, create construction employment, and add renewable generating capacity to the grid.
According to a May 26 press release from the New York State Department of Public Service, the Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES) approved the permit for Boralex LLC to develop the project in the Town of Fort Edward. Boralex is an independent renewable energy producer in North America and Europe.
The state said the facility is expected to create about 120 full-time equivalent construction jobs and up to three permanent positions once operations begin. Boralex will base operations out of its South Glens Falls office.
Department of Public Service CEO Rory M. Christian said the approval advances New York’s efforts to expand clean energy generation while improving grid reliability.
State officials said the 100-megawatt project will produce enough electricity to power about 25,600 average-sized homes and is expected to be operational in 2030.
Community Benefits, Local Revenue
The state said the project will deliver more than $14 million in community benefits over its operating life through payment in lieu of taxes agreements and a host community benefit agreement with the Town of Fort Edward, Washington County and local school districts.
Officials also said Boralex plans to support STEM education and workforce development programs through its Beyond Renewables Fund. In addition, the project is expected to provide $500,000 in utility bill credits for Town of Fort Edward residents during the first 10 years of operation.
Town of Fort Edward Supervisor Tim Fisher said the permitting milestone followed years of engagement among the developer, town officials, residents and other stakeholders. In the state’s release, Fisher said the result was a project designed to balance community character, local priorities, economic opportunity and statewide clean energy goals.
Labor support also featured prominently in the announcement. Anthony Fresina, business manager for LIUNA Local 190, said the project would bring good-paying, family-sustaining construction jobs with benefits to workers in the area.
Scope Of Work and Grid Connection
The Fort Edward Solar Project will include solar photovoltaic arrays, access roads, inverters, electric collection lines, fencing, landscaping and a collection substation with a transformer that will step voltage up to 115 kV for interconnection to the existing grid through the New York 115 kV Line 15 Mohican-Battenkill, the state said.
Environmental Review Reshaped the Project
State officials said the permit followed a public review process that included public comment, hearings and an appellate hearing led by the ORES executive director.
The permit includes enforceable conditions governing construction, operations and decommissioning, including full site restoration at the end of the project’s life.
During review, the project was revised several times to reduce its footprint and lessen impacts on agricultural land, wetlands and wildlife habitat, officials said.
According to the department, the footprint was reduced by 146 acres, occupied wildlife habitat impacts were reduced by 136 acres, wetland impacts were reduced by 144 acres, and active agricultural impacts were reduced by 269 acres. The final project footprint is about 530 acres.
The state said remaining unavoidable impacts will be offset through wetland protection, creation and restoration, along with habitat enhancement for threatened and endangered species both on and off site. Before construction can begin, Boralex must submit a final net conservation benefit plan to ORES for review and approval.
Grassland Bird Agreement Clears One More Hurdle
The Department of Public Service also said Grassland Bird Trust Inc., a stakeholder that had been active in the case, reached an agreement with Boralex that will reportedly fund land acquisition for long-term grassland bird habitat conservation in Washington County.
Following that agreement, the group withdrew its pending appeal related to the permitting process. In a separate statement referenced by the department, the organization said its concerns about grassland bird mitigation had been resolved.
ORES Interim Executive Director Jason Zehr said the agency conducted a detailed review of the site’s environmental resources and described the project as an example of how developers and stakeholders can work together on project design that addresses community, landowner and environmental concerns.
Broader Buildout
With the Fort Edward Solar approval, ORES said it has now approved 36 large-scale solar and wind projects totaling more than 5.1 gigawatts of clean energy statewide.
For New York’s construction market, the Fort Edward permit signals public-sector momentum behind large-scale renewable energy generation, especially projects that can pair grid additions with negotiated community benefits, labor support, and site-specific environmental mitigation.
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