New York Construction Report staff writer
New York state regulators have approved a 200-megawatt solar facility in St. Lawrence County, expected to create hundreds of construction jobs and provide new revenue for local schools and municipalities.
The Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission, part of the state Department of Public Service, issued the final siting permit to Boralex LLC for the Two Rivers Solar Project, which will be located in the towns of Brasher and Massena.
The project is expected to create 279 good-paying construction jobs and generate enough electricity to power about 56,000 homes and offset more than 91,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. Boralex expects the facility to be operational in 2028.
“Our local union is proud to support the Two Rivers Solar project, which will bring good paying construction jobs with living wages and benefits to workers and their families in our region,” said Laborers International Union Local 1822 Business Manager Scott Hilyard. “Our members are trained and ready to deliver this work safely and efficiently, and we are glad to see this investment in our community.”
Local officials welcomed the approval. Brasher Supervisor Mark Peets said Boralex “has listened to our concerns and made meaningful project changes that have helped build trust and support.” Massena Supervisor Ray Lancto said the project will bring “tangible economic benefits to our town,” especially following the loss of manufacturing jobs.
Boralex has worked with both towns to minimize impacts on wetlands, streams, cultural and historic resources, and visual landscapes. The company plans to hire about 279 full-time construction workers and prioritize local sourcing for materials and services.
Since 2021, New York has approved 36 large-scale solar and wind projects, totaling about 4.5 gigawatts of new clean energy. Of those, 30 projects were permitted by ORES.
The project application was filed Feb. 25, 2025. A notice of complete application was issued on Aug. 4, 2025, and a draft permit was issued Sept. 19.
“Projects such as this demonstrate that we can strengthen grid reliability and reduce emissions while investing in the communities that make this progress possible,” said Rory M. Christian, chair and CEO of the Public Service Commission.
