Governor Hochul Announces Executed Contracts for 23 Large-Scale Land-Based Renewable Energy Projects

Projects Will Provide More than 2.3 Gigawatts of Clean Energy: Enough to Power More than 700,000 Homes in New York State

Will Create More than 2,500 Near-Term, Family Sustaining Jobs and Generate More than $4.7 Billion In Private Investment

Reinforces the State’s Commitment to Equitable Clean Energy Development, Grid Resiliency, and Economic Development

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that contracts have been executed for 23 large-scale land-based renewable energy projects that will provide more than 2.3 gigawatts of clean energy, which is enough to power more than 700,000 homes throughout New York State. The projects are expected to create more than 2,500 near-term, family-sustaining jobs and generate more than $4.7 billion in private investment while reinforcing the State’s commitment to the development of clean energy, grid resiliency and economic development.

“New York continues to foster competitive opportunities for the clean energy industry to thrive,” Governor Hochul said. “We are delivering on our commitment to make New York more prosperous by harnessing the benefits of a growing clean energy economy, increasing family sustaining jobs and spurring private investment within communities across the State while remaining focused on keeping energy affordable for all New Yorkers.”

The contracted awards are the result of the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) 2023 Tier 1 Renewable Energy Standard solicitation. The projects are expected to reduce CO2 equivalent emissions by 2.3 million metric tons annually, the equivalent of removing nearly 350,000 cars from the road; provide public health benefits resulting from reduced exposure to harmful pollutants; and provide more than $249 million in commitments to disadvantaged communities from community benefit funds.

New York State Energy and Research Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “Today we celebrate 23 more projects that will deliver clean, sustainable energy to our state’s electric grid. New York continues to provide a reliable market for renewable energy projects, and by facilitating responsible development of these projects, we are protecting our natural resources and creating healthier communities.”

Central New York

• Dog Corners, Cordelio Power, Cayuga County
• Scipio Solar, Cordelio Power, Cayuga County
• ELP Granby Solar II, VC Renewables, Oswego County
• Garnet Energy Center, NextEra Energy Resources, Cayuga County

Finger Lakes

• Trelina Solar Energy Center, NextEra Energy Resources, Seneca County
• Cider Solar Farm, Hecate Energy and Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company, Genesee County
• Highview Solar, Cordelio Power, Wyoming County
• Heritage Wind, Apex Clean Energy, Orleans County
• Excelsior Energy Center, NextEra Energy Resources, Genesee County

Mid-Hudson

• Little Pond Solar, Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company, Orange County

Mohawk Valley

• Tayandenega Solar, Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company, Montgomery County
• Rock District Solar, Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company, Schoharie County
• Grassy Knoll Solar, Cordelio Power, Herkimer County
• Flat Hill Solar, Cordelio Power, Herkimer County
• Watkins Road Solar, Cordelio Power, Herkimer County
• Hills Solar, Cordelio Power, Herkimer County
• Flat Stone Solar, Cordelio Power, Oneida County

North Country

• Brookside Solar, AES, Franklin County

Southern Tier

• Baron Winds II, RWE, Steuben County
• Canisteo Wind Energy Center, Invenergy, Steuben County
• Valley Solar, Cordelio Power, Tioga County

Western New York

• Alle-Catt Wind, Invenergy, Allegany and Cattaraugus Counties, Wyoming County (Finger Lakes region)
• Bear Ridge Solar, Cypress Creek Renewables, Niagara County

The payments under the contracted projects will only begin once projects are constructed and begin delivering renewable energy to New York after obtaining all required permits and approvals. Several projects have already commenced construction activities, and all projects are expected to be operational by 2028.

Additionally, the State will continue to emphasize and enhance engagements with the projects’ host communities. NYSERDA offers resources and no-cost technical assistance to help local governments understand how to manage responsible clean energy development in their communities, including step-by-step instructions and tools to guide the implementation of clean energy, permitting processes, property taxes, siting, zoning, and more.

For details on the contracted projects, visit the NYSERDA website.

Justice Department Announces Successful Conclusion of Agreement with the City of Yonkers, New York and the Yonkers Police Department to Ensure Constitutional Policing

 

The Justice Department announced today the successful conclusion of its agreement with the City of Yonkers, New York, and the Yonkers Police Department (YPD). The agreement required YPD to improve its policies and practices regarding the use of force, stops, searches, and arrests, the protection of First Amendment rights, misconduct investigations and discipline, and community policing. Over the past eight years, the city and YPD have implemented all of the reforms required by the agreement and sustained those reforms for more than a year. Today, the Justice Department agreed to terminate the agreement and commends the city and YPD on their achievements.

“The success of Yonkers and the Yonkers Police Department under this agreement demonstrates the fundamental truth that fair, constitutional and effective policing can enhance public safety and promote trust between police and the community they are sworn to protect and serve,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Through this agreement, the city and YPD have significantly decreased settlement payouts on excessive force claims, and from 2017 to 2023, violent crimes in Yonkers also fell substantially. We commend YPD leadership, including former YPD Commissioners Charles Gardner and John Mueller, current YPD Commissioner Christopher Sapienza, as well as civilian staff and officers for their commitment to ensure constitutional policing for the people of Yonkers.  Our settlements with police departments are of little utility unless real work and effort is put in to ensure that reforms are brought to life and successfully implemented.”

“Since the commencement of our investigation in 2007, the Yonkers Police Department has worked assiduously and cooperatively to implement significant reforms which ensure that its officers are well trained, well informed and guided on appropriate uses of force, and that a thorough and robust review system is in place to identify potentially problematic incidents, officers, training and tactics,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “The Yonkers Police Department has achieved substantial compliance with all provisions of the agreement and established policies and programs that demonstrate a dedication and commitment to serving the community and ensuring its safety and well-being. I commend the Yonkers Police Department for its efforts.”

Over the period the agreement has been in place, there are substantial indications that the agreement has led to improvements in the constitutionality and effectiveness of YPD’s policing.

• The city has experienced a significant reduction in excessive force settlement payouts due to a marked decrease in allegations of unlawful uses of force.
• YPD’s Internal Affairs Department has dramatically improved its average times to complete critical use-of-force investigations, from 245 days in 2019, down to 69 days in 2023.
• YPD’s Internal Affairs Department has significantly reduced its average times for completing civilian misconduct complaint investigations, from 236 days in 2019, to 72 days in 2023.
• The City of Yonkers has also experienced a 22% reduction in violent crimes over the last five years.

The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York jointly handled the matter.  

The Justice Department’s investigations have led to significant reforms of law enforcement agencies nationwide. For example, the Seattle Police Department reduced the use of serious force by 60%, and Seattle officers now use force in less than one-quarter of 1% of all events to which they respond. In Baltimore, the independent consent decree monitor found that officers use force less often and the force they do use is more likely to be consistent with department policy and the law. And under the consent decree in Albuquerque, use of force declined by 25% and violations of the force policy fell by half.

The technical assistance letter for Yonkers can be found here.

The settlement agreement with Yonkers can be found here.

Additional information about the Civil Rights Division’s work can be found here.   

New Yorkers for Parks - Giving Thanks – Thanks to you!

 

You play a huge role in the success of our advocacy and programs. We are a tiny (but mighty!) team of five, and without your contributions of time, talent and support we simply wouldn't be able to accomplish all we have accomplished this year. And with you, we’ve accomplished a lot!     We are here to defend the city’s parks budget against deeper cuts -- cuts that we simply cannot afford if we want our parks to remain a vital public resource for communities across the city.      And we will continue to be here, year in and year out, to challenge roll backs and push for the resilient parks system all New Yorkers deserve!     You make this continued fight possible, and for that we are immensely grateful.   This Giving Tuesday we are proud to partner with Patagonia once again, to offer two giveaways to two lucky supporters. Donate $200 or more and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a Patagonia hat and bag combo – a value of nearly $300 dollars!     We are so grateful for your continued support!     Thank you!

Donate Today! Since 1908, NY4P has protected and promoted open space across the city. Today we're the only independent non-profit championing quality open space for all New Yorkers.   Keep up with our work on Instagram, LinkedIn, X, & Facebook.