New York Construction Report staff writer
The New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES) has granted a final siting permit for the development of a 140-megawatt solar facility in Madison County.
Cypress Creek Renewables will build and operate the Oxbow Hill Solar project in the Town of Fenner. The new solar array is expected to power approximately 23,000 homes, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 177,000 metric tons annually, and contribute to local infrastructure and tax revenue.
Governor Kathy Hochul called the project another step toward a cleaner, more resilient energy system in the state.
“We are extremely pleased to announce the latest investment in solar technology, upholding our commitment to improving grid reliability and building a clean energy economy,” Hochul said in a statement. “The projects we have approved over the last few years are a testament to New York’s commitment to sustainability and resiliency.”
The facility will include a solar array, interconnection substation, access roads, fencing, and a building for operations and maintenance. Power will be transmitted via the Fenner Wind to Whitman Road 115-kilovolt line, operated by National Grid.
Oxbow Hill will be co-located on part of the existing Fenner Wind Farm, making it the first project approved by ORES that combines wind and solar on the same site.
Construction is expected to generate about 330 jobs, adding to New York’s growing clean energy workforce. Since its creation in 2021, ORES has approved 24 clean energy projects under Article VIII of the Public Service Law. An additional four were permitted by the New York State Siting Board under Article 10, which previously governed projects over 25 megawatts.
“While this is a monumental achievement, we are reminded that we still have work to do to address New York’s growing energy needs,” said ORES Executive Director Zeryai Hagos.
ORES said the project was approved in under a year, meeting the statutory deadline following a review process that included public hearings and comment periods. The application was deemed complete on Nov. 18, 2024, and a draft permit was issued Jan. 14, 2025.
The agency said the approval of Oxbow Hill Solar helps advance the state’s climate and energy targets while demonstrating an efficient, transparent permitting process for large-scale renewable energy projects.
Today’s decisions may be obtained by going to the ORES website.
