Step Forward for Cider Solar and for NY’s Office of Renewable Energy Siting

On July 25, a siting permit was for Cider Solar, New York’s largest solar facility to be permitted to date. is a 500-megawatt (MW) facility under development with Hecate Energy in the towns of Elba and Oakfield in Genesee County, NY. It is expected to power more than 125,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions by 462,000 tons each year.

is the first solar project to be permitted by the from start to finish. Previously, all electric generating facilities over 25 megawatts (MW) were sited through New York’s process. The new process is run by ORES, which was created by the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act Of 2020. All projects larger than 25 MW now apply for permits through ORES.

As the first project to go through ORES from the start, it’s a good test case for the process. And the results are encouraging: Cider Solar’s process at ORES was 14 months. Hecate Energy filed their on May 25, 2021; then filed their  application to ORES on June 1, 2021, and ORES the permit July 25, 2022.  The permit includes specific requirements on standards, decommissioning, and construction compliance.

With this decision by ORES, Hecate is one step closer to bringing a myriad of benefits to the community, including the growth and creation of clean energy jobs, economic benefits of the project, displacement of greenhouse gas emissions, and increased funding source for the local government and schools. 

ßÙÁ¨´«Ã½ and its members are hopeful that the new process will allow for more efficient permitting of renewable energy while adhering to the State’s strong environmental and public health and safety standards. The Cider Solar project receiving its permit in 14 months is certainly reassuring and illustrates that ORES has accelerated permitting of renewable energy facilities in New York.