In June of 2022, Alfred Oaks Solar LLC, a Northland Power affiliate, was awarded a contract by the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) for the development of Alfred Oaks Solar, a 100 MW solar facility with 20 MW of battery storage in the Town of Alfred, Allegany County.

On August 31, 2022, Alfred Oaks Solar filed a notice of intent to file an application with the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) pursuant to Executive Law 94-c for a siting permit. This application for a siting permit is intended to be filed in late October 2022.

According to the Project website, the Project is proposed to be located 4-5 miles southwest of the Village of Alfred. It will be centered around Route 12 and McAndrews/ Pingrey Hill Rd. There will be photovoltaic (PV) panels on a single-axis tracker racking and the interconnection will be located on the eastern stern side of the Facility Site. The Project will include an electrical collection and interconnection system, access roads, a collection substation and a point of interconnection, and an energy storage system. Alfred Oaks Solar has 1,029 acres under lease.

94-c provides an expedited permitting process for the siting of large-scale renewable energy projects. Under the expedited permitting process, local governments are required to assess whether a project can comply with local laws, and to provide information about such compliance to ORES. Local agencies such as town and county governments, as well as private citizens and community groups, can apply for state managed “local agency” funding to at least partially offset the cost of participating in the ORES siting process. The money can be used for retention of attorneys, experts, and engineers. Such attorneys and experts can assist the local agency in tasks including reviewing project applications and potential impacts, advocating for a local government’s interests in the ORES proceeding, reviewing whether a project can comply with all applicable local laws and preparing required reports for review by ORES, and submitting comments on the draft permit.

The Zoghlin Group, PLLC, represents individuals, municipalities and other clients with power plant siting, environmental law, zoning and land use law, and municipal law. We provide legal services to local governments and interest groups across New York State. We also assist municipalities with PILOT and Host Community Agreement negotiations.

For inquiries about Alfred Oaks Solar and the process for siting large power plants pursuant to 94-c of the Executive Law and/or Articles 7 and 68 of the New York State Public Service Law, please contact The Zoghlin Group.

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