New York Grants Contracts For 2.5 GW Renewable Energy

The state of New York has signed renewable energy contracts for 26 large-scale renewable energy projects representing a combined 2.5 GW capacity and over $6 billion in private investments. 

Contracted facilities comprise 18 solar projects and 8 wind and hydroelectric projects. These are spread across the Capital Region, Central New York, Finger Lakes, Mohawk Valley, North Country, Southern Tier, and Western New York.  

Some of the selected projects are currently under construction. Canada-headquartered Boralex signed contracts for its Fort Covington and Two Rivers solar projects with a combined 450 MW capacity.  

All of these facilities are required to come online by 2029. Payments under the contracted projects will begin once they start supplying renewable energy to New York, specified the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA). Together, these are expected to generate close to 5,000 GWh annually.  

The state selected these 26 facilities under its 2024 Tier 1 Renewable Energy Standard solicitation. Earlier, it awarded contracts for 23 solar and wind projects totaling 2.34 GW in the 2023 solicitation, while the 2022 round selected 22 solar, wind and hydroelectric projects representing a combined 2.31 GW capacity.  

“New York State’s leadership on clean energy is more important now than ever, given the federal government’s efforts to turn back progress,” said Natural Resources Defense Council Power Sector Managing Director Kit Kennedy.

Under its Renewables Strategic Plan, the state aims to add more than 3 GW of new renewable energy generation capacity through 37 solar and battery storage projects, declared New York Power Authority earlier this year (see New York State To Expand Renewable Energy Capacity By Over 3 GW).