Mohawk Solar

Montgomery County, NY

    • 90 MW-AC
    • will generate ~185,000 MWh per year
    • will power over 20,000 average homes per year
    • will offset ~140,000 tons of CO2 per year
    • will offset ~135 million pounds of coal burned per year

    Mohawk Solar LLC (“Mohawk Solar”) is seeking authority from the New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment (the “Siting Board”) to construct a 90 megawatt (“MW”) solar photovoltaic electric generating facility (the “Project”) in the Towns of Canajoharie and Minden, Montgomery County, New York, pursuant to Article 10 of the New York State Public Service Law (“PSL”). On or about September 15, 2017, Mohawk Solar will file a Preliminary Scoping Statement (“PSS”) that summarizes the proposed scope of studies Mohawk Solar will undertake – the results of which will form the basis of its Application to the Siting Board.

    Within 21 days after the PSS is filed, any person, agency, or municipality may submit comments on the PSS by serving such comments on the Applicant and filing a copy with the Secretary to the Siting Board. Comments must reference Case Number 17-F-0182 and may be submitted in writing to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary to the Siting Board, New York State Public Service Commission, Agency Building 3, Albany, NY 12223-1350 or electronically to secretary@dps.ny.gov. Any interested person may also file a written request with the Secretary to receive copies of all notices concerning the Project. Additional information can be found on the Siting Board’s website located at www.dps.ny.gov/SitingBoard. Documents filed in this proceeding may also be viewed online at the Public Service Commission’s (“PSC”) website located at www.dps.ny.gov by clicking “Search” on the homepage and then entering Case Number 17-F-0182 in the field “Search by Case Number.” Interested parties may also subscribe to the service list or request party status by accessing this proceeding through the PSC’s website.

    On May 26, 2017, Mohawk Solar LLC, a subsidiary of Community Energy Solar LLC, filed a Public Involvement Program Plan (“PIP”) with the New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment (the “Siting Board”). The PIP, filed pursuant to Article 10 of the New York State Public Service Law and associated regulations (16 NYCRR Part 1000), is the first step in the process to obtain the requisite approvals from the Siting Board to construct the Project. In the PIP, Mohawk Solar committed to, among other outreach activities, holding four open-house style meetings, the first two of which will be held at the above date, times and location. The purpose of the meeting is to educate interested parties, receive public comment and answer questions about the Project.


  • Mohawk Solar (owned by Avangrid Renewables) is a proposed 90 MW-AC solar project located in the Towns of Canajoharie and Minden in Montgomery County, NY. Consistent with the NY Public Service Commission’s proceeding implementing a Clean Energy Standard, which supports the development of clean energy and renewable resources in New York State, the project will safely generate enough clean, renewable electricity to power over 20,000 households and offset ~140,000 tons of CO2 emissions each year.

    Mohawk Solar will be sited on ~900 acres of non-contiguous parcels, interspersed with ongoing agricultural activity. Land leases with private landowners will provide a consistent revenue stream for local farmers and residents for the life of the project, in excess of typical farm income.  The project will use the same type of photovoltaic panels installed on over one million homes in the United States. Solar equipment is a proven and safe technology in applications from fields to rooftops of homes, schools, and businesses.

    The project will provide a significant economic stimulus to the area during construction by providing jobs and local contracts for goods and services, and significant long-term economic benefits through lease revenue to local landowners and tax revenue to the community.

    Responsibly sited solar facilities can provide a net benefit to the preservation of agricultural land.  The facility is not a permanent structure and funding is provided to decommission the project at the end of its useful life.  The project essentially provides a form of preservation for agricultural land by maintaining permeable land surface and improving soil quality over the project life. After decommissioning, the project leaves no trace so land can be returned to agricultural use. Setbacks, fencing, and landscape buffering enable solar projects to blend comfortably into the community.

    Community Energy has developed over 1,400 MW of wind and solar facilities over 17 years, often as the first project in a state or county. We value our relationships with local stakeholders and we work closely with local communities to ensure our projects will be good neighbors for many years.

    Mohawk Solar FAQ
    Solar Farm Images

    Article 10

    The Power NY Act of 2011 established a process for the siting of electric generating facilities. As part of the process, a multi-agency Siting Board is charged with streamlining the permitting process for power plants of 25 MW or greater. The Power NY Act also encourages investments in clean power plants and affords communities more opportunities to participate in the siting process.

    Article 10 requires careful consideration of compliance with local laws and ordinances; analysis of potential environmental, socioeconomic, and public health impacts; and studies regarding environmental justice and public safety.  Article 10 also establishes key mechanisms to encourage local outreach and support public involvement in the Siting Board proceedings.

    The Siting Board’s rules require that applicants proposing to submit an application under Article 10 initiate the regulatory review process by first filing a Public Involvement Program Plan (“PIP”) with the New York State Department of Public Service (“DPS”).  Under the Siting Board’s rules, the PIP must be submitted to the DPS for review at least 150 days prior to filing a Preliminary Scoping Statement (“PSS”).

    The purpose of the PIP is to introduce the project to the local community and other interested parties, explain the public outreach and involvement efforts that Mohawk Solar will pursue throughout the development of the project, and explain how these efforts comply with and satisfy New York State’s legal and regulatory requirements.  The development efforts and the proposed PIP for Mohawk Solar focus first and foremost on early and frequent communication with host communities, including the Town of Canajoharie, the Town of Minden, and Montgomery County.

    Mohawk Solar is the first solar project to file under Article 10.  A draft PIP was filed with the DPS on March 31, 2017, initiating a 30-day DPS review and comment period.  The DPS provided comments to the PIP on May 1, 2017.  Mohawk Solar will file the final PIP plan on or before May 31, 2017.  This webpage will be updated with new information as the project moves through the development and certification process.

    Article 10 Siting Board Website
    Mohawk Solar – DPS Case 17-F-0182
    Mohawk Solar – Article 10 Process Update
    DPS Guide to Intervenor Funding

    About Community Energy Solar

    Community Energy has been pioneering renewable energy development and marketing for 17 years.  Since its inception in 1999, Community Energy has led the development, financing and construction of over 1,400 MW of renewable energy facilities. With our development expertise and the support of local communities, we developed and built some of the first wind power facilities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Illinois, and Missouri.

    Since entering the solar business in 2009, Community Energy has developed ~600 MW of solar PV facilities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Indiana, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Colorado, Minnesota, and a 2 MW solar farm at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York.

    With Mohawk Solar (owned by Avangrid Renewables), Community Energy would build on its track record of launching utility-scale solar in states across the country including:

    Each project is the largest PV project in its respective state.

    Contact for More Information or to Request Stakeholder Status
    Joe Green, Project Developer
    610-662-4121 / joe.green@communityenergyinc.com

    Toll Free Number: 866-946-3123