Solar panels in a field with grass.
July 31, 2023
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Albany

ORES Announces Permitting Of Bear Ridge Solar Facility

ORES Announces Permitting Of Bear Ridge Solar Facility
Fourteen Large-Scale Renewable Energy Projects Approved by ORES Since 2021
Brings 2.2-Gigawatt of New Clean Energy to State

ALBANY, NY— The New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES or Office) today issued a final siting permit for Bear Ridge Solar LLC to develop, design, construct, operate, maintain, and decommission an up to 100-megawatt (MW) solar energy facility in the Towns of Cambria and Pendleton, Niagara County.

The Office’s decision for this facility follows a timely, detailed, and transparent review process with robust public participation to ensure the proposed project meets or exceeds the requirements of Executive Law § 94-c and its implementing regulations. This project and other major renewable energy facilities permitted and currently under ORES review are vital to meet the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s (CLCPA) aggressive carbon reduction and clean energy targets to combat climate change.

Office of Renewable Energy Siting Executive Director Houtan Moaveni said, “The announcement today represents another important milestone in the State’s fight against climate change. ORES remains committed to conducting extensive and transparent reviews of all siting permit applications while working closely with all stakeholders to ensure that all voices are heard throughout the process.”

Bear Ridge Solar marks the 14th siting permit issued by ORES since 2021, which cumulatively represents over 2.2-gigawatt (GW) of new clean energy. This progress indicates that the Office’s new siting process is meaningfully advancing the State toward achieving its nation-leading clean energy goals while establishing the State as a paradigm for efficient, transparent, and thorough siting permitting process of major renewable energy facilities.

Today’s decision may be obtained by going to the Office’s website at https://ores.ny.gov/permit-applications.

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan

New York State's nation-leading climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues fostering a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nation’s most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economywide carbon neutrality by mid-century. A cornerstone of this transition is New York's unprecedented clean energy investments, including more than $35 billion in 120 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the State, $6.8 billion to reduce building emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.8 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. These and other investments are supporting more than 165,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector in 2021 and a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, New York also adopted zero-emission vehicle regulations, including requiring all new passenger cars and trucks sold in the State be zero emission by 2035. Partnerships are continuing to advance New York’s climate action with nearly 400 registered and 100 certified Climate Smart Communities, nearly 500 Clean Energy Communities, and the State’s largest community air monitoring initiative in 10 disadvantaged communities across the state to help target air pollution and combat climate change.

About ORES

The Office of Renewable Energy Siting ORES is the first-of-its-kind state agency dedicated solely to environmentally responsible and cost-effective siting of renewable energy facilities and was established by the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act in April 2020. The Office consolidates the environmental review and permitting of major renewable energy facilities to ensure that siting decisions are predictable, responsible, and done in a timely manner with input from local governments and host communities. On March 3, 2021, the Office adopted comprehensive regulations including a set of uniform standards and conditions to implement the Act. The Office is designed to enable New York to obtain 70 percent of the State's electricity from renewable sources by 2030, as required under New York's nation-leading climate plan, enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.