New York — Eden Renewables says construction has commenced on 8 new solar farms developed by the company throughout the Capital Region.
The solar farms are located in the towns of Claverack, Glen, Schaghticoke and Schodack. Each project will have an installed capacity of 7.5 MW, generating enough clean solar energy to power the equivalent of approximately 1,225 homes. Each solar farm allows local subscribers to save 10% on their annual electricity bill credits as community projects.
Cumulatively, they will add 60 MW capacity to solar in New York, making an important contribution to state and national net-zero targets and powering the equivalent of around 9,800 homes.
Equally important, the projects will also benefit pollinators with a mixture of native wildflowers, hedges and grasses sown as ground cover at every site – with over 280 acres used cumulatively for ecological and biodiversity enhancements. Each solar farm is about 35 acres in total, more than 35 million new pollinator-friendly flowering plants and native grasses will be thriving under and around the panels.
Giovanni Maruca, Chief Development Officer, said: “The last two years have been very challenging for everyone. We are excited that these solar farms have broken ground and will soon supply clean, low cost power to their host communities.
“Eden’s community solar farms are a great example of how land can be used for multiple purposes – generating clean power, providing wildlife habitats, pollinator services, and producing food with sheep grazing and beehives making honey. Soon there should be butterflies fluttering, birds singing and bees buzzing around newly planted photovoltaic panels, helping local people to save money on their energy bills .”
The first solar farm broke ground on Wednesday, September 21, 2021, and the construction of each project is expected to last six months.
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