FAQs about the Watkins Glen Solar Energy Center

Q: What is the Watkins Glen Energy Center?

A: The Watkins Glen Solar Energy Center has developed a proposal to establish a large-scale solar energy facility located in Schuyler County, New York. The Watkins Glen Solar Energy Center would significantly contribute to New York’s efforts to meet its renewable energy goals.

Q: How much energy will the Energy Center generate?

A: The Watkins Glen Solar Energy Center will generate 50 megawatts of solar energy.

Q: How will the local community benefit from this project?

A: The Watkins Glen Solar Energy Center is expected to position Schuyler County as a leader in renewable energy and help New York meet its renewable energy goals.

Q: Are there other benefits that the project will bring?

A: New York has set a goal of producing half of its total power from renewable sources by 2030 and projects like this will help meet that need.

This new source of clean, renewable power produces no air or water pollution and is in line with the state’s Clean Energy Standard and Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) initiative, which is fostering new opportunities for renewable power that will help New York transform its energy generation system.

Q: What is NextEra Energy Resources?

A: NextEra Energy Resources, LLC is a clean energy leader and is one of the largest wholesale generators of electric power in the U.S. NextEra Energy Resources is the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun. NextEra Energy Resources, LLC is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). NextEra Energy, Inc. is a leading clean energy company with consolidated revenues of approximately $16.2 billion and approximately 14,700 employees in 30 states and Canada as of year-end 2016

Q: How is the project being approved?     

A: Permitting and approval is overseen by New York State’s Article 10 process.

Q: What is Article 10?

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