New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Comments on North Side Energy Center Solar Project

Strategic Insights -

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has submitted comments on the Preliminary Scoping Statement (PSS) for the North Side Energy Center Solar Project, a 180-megawatt solar energy generating facility proposed by NextEra Energy Resources LLC in the Towns of Massena, Brasher, and Norfolk, St. Lawrence County. The PSS was filed on June 5, 2020. NYSDEC aims to ensure that the project complies with state law and regulations and provides sufficient information for thorough review. The department requests detailed information and analyses, including reports on wildlife surveys, habitat, and wetland/stream surveys, to assess the environmental impacts of the facility.

Key Takeaways:

  • The North Side Energy Center Solar Project will have a capacity of 180 megawatts and cover approximately 2,200 acres of land, with the facility ultimately sited on 1,200-1,400 acres of land.
  • The project will include commercial-scale solar arrays, inverters, access roads, fencing, collection lines, laydown/staging areas, a collection substation, and POI facilities.
  • NYSDEC requests that all draft and final reports, including wildlife survey reports, habitat, and wetland/stream surveys, be submitted on an as-produced basis to facilitate timely discussions with the applicant.
  • Final reports should incorporate comments provided by NYSDEC and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, along with any supplemental material or information requested by these agencies.
  • NYSDEC requests shapefiles (.shp) suitable for use in GIS software depicting the location of all project components, including the extent of the facility site, parcels under control, solar panel array locations, alternate panel locations, new access and maintenance roads, existing roads that will be widened/altered, and electric collection and transmission lines.
  • The proposed collection substation and interconnection facilities will be located on land east of the solar arrays within the project area, adjacent to NYPA's Massena - Mosses 230 kV transmission line and immediately adjacent to the existing Massena substation.

Statistics:

  • 180 megawatts: the proposed capacity of the North Side Energy Center Solar Project
  • 2,200 acres: the approximate area of land covered by the project
  • 1,200-1,400 acres: the estimated area of land where the facility will ultimately be sited
  • 230 kilovolts: the proposed voltage for the interconnection facilities
  • 16 NYCRR SS 1000.5: the regulatory code section providing guidance on the Siting Board's general guidance for the stakeholders in fashioning the specifics of the stipulations

Sources:

  • New York State Department of Public Service
  • New York State Public Service Commission
  • NextEra Energy Resources LLC
  • New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)
  • New York State Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN)
  • New York State Species of Special Concern (SSC)
  • US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
  • New York Power Authority (NYPA)
  • US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
  • US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)