Hecate Energy plans for 500 MW solar project in the USA

Hecate Energy has filed an application with the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) to construct a 500 MW solar farm in the Western New York towns of Elba and Oakfield, representing the first new application to be submitted under the state's new permitting process for large-scale renewable projects.

Initially, the project sought leases and options for approximately 4,000 acres of land in the towns of Elba and Oakfield in Genesee County. As the understanding of local priorities grew clearer, detailed siting and study efforts allowed Hecate to refine the project's footprint to approximately 2,800 acres of land across the two towns. Energy from the solar project is projected to offset over 420,000 tons of C02 per year, the equivalent of taking over 92,000 average cars off the road annually.

If approved and constructed, the Cider Solar Farm would be the largest solar project ever built in New York State. The US$500 plus million-dollar private infrastructure investment is expected to create over 500 construction jobs and will be capable of supplying 920,000 megawatts-hours of renewable electricity per year – enough to power over 120,000 average New York households.