Work to begin on massive Flint Mine Solar farm

COXSACKIE/ATHENS―In the works for nearly a decade, Flint Mine Solar is finally slated to begin construction on its 100-megawatt facility that is anticipated to be up and running by March of 2028.

Developers for the massive solar farm, scattered across some 1,600 acres on both sides of State Route 9W in the towns of Coxsackie and Athens, submitted a modified preconstruction notice on Tuesday to the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC). According to the notice, tree clearing is expected to begin next week and continue through the end of the month.

“The project has been in development for several years and is preparing to begin construction this year. The March activities are strictly limited to manual tree-felling within designated areas. Formal construction activities and broader site work are anticipated to commence later in 2026,” the notice states, adding that work will occur during daytime hours and will “generally proceed in phases, subject to weather and site conditions.”

The deadline for filing the notice was supposed to be 14 days prior to commencement of pre-construction activities, but Flint Mine Solar has requested the PSC modify the requirement to seven days.

“The project urgently needs to commence construction and the requested relief would enable tree felling to begin and be completed prior to the end of March and the close of the winter tree clearing period avoiding potential impacts to bats,” wrote attorney James A. Muscato of Young/Sommer LLC, the Albany-based law firm representing Flint Mine Solar, in a March 3 letter to the PSC.

“The Flint Mine Solar development team have already been working with stakeholders to make them aware of the potential commencement of tree clearing, including multiple meetings, telephone calls and emails with the Towns and the State,” Muscato noted.

The project was developed by affiliates of Hudson Energy Development and Amber Infrastructure from 2016 until June of 2022 when it was sold to D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI), now the long-term owner responsible for bringing it through construction.

Making its way through years of local, state and federal regulatory requirements and legal hurdles, Flint Mine Solar received approval for compliance filings from the PSC in November of 2023.

Since then, Muscato explained, “Flint Mine Solar has worked to procure a New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) contract for the procurement of electricity and renewable energy credits from the facility, signed certain supply, labor and other tax related agreements for the facility, and has modified the facility design to eliminate potential federal wetland impacts.”

“Development has been delayed by federal permitting and tax credit risks, supply and labor contracting issues, tariffs and other complications,” he continued. “Based on recently received information, however, Flint Mine Solar anticipates commencing construction as soon as possible to achieve a March 2028 commercial operation date.”

In approving a 2023 Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement with Flint Mine Solar, the Greene County Industrial Development Agency (GCIDA), estimated the total project investment at $272,460,000.

The actual footprint of the ground-mounted solar panels and infrastructure covers roughly 347 acres. Generated electricity will be sent directly to the New York State grid and, according to developers, will supply enough power for approximately 20,000 to 21,000 homes.