All is fair in love and war, but when it comes to the collective efforts of the world to mitigate the effects of climate change, it does not seem fair that fossil fuel-related carbon emissions continue to rise globally. One US state will hopefully forget all about coal and gas, as New York will turn on 1,000,000 solar panels. This 500,000 kW project’s construction is already underway, and will be the largest solar farm in the state once completed. Discover how this project will deliver so much more than clean energy.
Forgetting about coal and gas
Several states have shown their commitment to transitioning away from fossil fuels and transitioning to renewable energy sources. According to the Global Carbon Budget, despite this commitment and prior decreases in carbon emissions in the US, 2025 had a global forecast of achieving new record levels of fossil fuel-related carbon dioxide emissions, and the US was a major contributor.
Climate TRACE noted that sectoral shifts in emissions led to these new levels, where the transportation and power sectors experienced increased emissions. Other driving factors included an increased energy demand (data centers and industrial use), as well as higher natural gas consumption and coal-fired power production. Among the states guilty of higher emissions is the state of New York.
While New York state may have shut down its final coal power plant in 2020, and thus no longer depends on coal for power production, it is significantly dependent on natural gas for power supply. Data from the US EIA indicate that natural gas supplied 46% of power production in 2023, and heating for more than 50% of its residents. Now, the state will turn on 1,000,000 solar panels, hoping to forget about fossil fuels.
New York will turn on 1,000,000 solar panels
The solar project is located in Genesee County, New York. The early construction of this mega-project commenced in late 2024. On May 14, 2025, major construction kicked off, with Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC announcing the project’s process. Greenbacker’s Interim CEO and Head of Infrastructure, Dan de Boer, made the announcement:
“We are pleased to begin major construction on New York’s largest solar energy project yet. Cider offers tangible economic benefits to Genesee County communities and the broader region, and it represents an important milestone in New York’s clean energy transition that will power the state forward for years to come.”
The Cider Solar Farm 500,000 kW project may be the biggest solar farm in New York ever, but it will do so much more for the surrounding communities than produce clean power.
500,000 kW project with many benefits
According to Greenbacker’s website, Cider Solar Farm’s construction is set to reach completion in 2026, and once this has been achieved, it will reportedly produce nearly 1 million mWh of clean power annually. This amount of electricity is enough to power nearly 120,000 homes in New York. The project itself was predicted to generate nearly $100 million in revenue thanks to:
- Host community agreements
- Property taxes
- Tax benefits
Cider Solar Farm will also result in the following community benefits:
- Sustainment of local agriculture
- Guaranteed long-term lease revenues
- Job opportunities for locals
- Engineering, surveying, site preparation, construction, operations, and maintenance
- Affordable power for local communities
- Solar energy has steady and predictable electricity generation fees
- First responders support
- New revenue for community services such as the fire department and ambulance company
Hecate Energy is responsible for the development of Cider Solar Farm, which will also incorporate “agrivoltaics” methods. Initially, 300 acres will be used for dual-purpose agricultural approaches, such as sheep grazing. As New York state continues to invest in renewable energy projects and put the use of coal and gas behind it, we sincerely hope that other states will follow suit soon. Another unique solar project is the US’s first artificial photovoltaic island.
