Greenskies installs 2.46-MW array for Erie County, New York

Solar Power World | Kelsey Misbrener
June 5, 2018

Greenskies Renewable Energy, a Clean Focus Company, completed the installation of a solar array in Alden, New York comprised of 7,939 solar photovoltaic panels. This project will provide clean, renewable energy for Erie County, located in western New York.

The ground-mounted solar array, built on an unused tract of land owned by Erie County, went on-line May 25, 2018.

The power produced from the solar array will power Erie County under a 20-year PPA, benefiting Erie County buildings with clean, renewable energy and lower energy bills. Greenskies will maintain the solar arrays, and Clean Focus Yield Limited will operate the system as part of its large portfolio of commercial, industrial, small utility, and community solar projects.

“In 2017, in the absence of leadership on the federal level, Erie County decided to lead by signing on to the Paris Climate Agreement,” stated Jonathan Rivera, special assistant to the commissioner Erie County, Department of Public Works. “The Alden Solar array project, along with various other initiatives, will ensure that Erie County will surpass its clean energy goal which is to procure 100% of the electric power used for its own operations from renewable sources by 2030.”

The solar array is expected to produce 3,101,631 kWh of clean energy annually, which could power 249 homes or offset the environmental impact of 259,737 gallons of gasoline or nearly 494 cars each year.

“Greenskies is pleased to work with Erie County to achieve its sustainability goals,” stated Stanley Chin, president and CEO of Greenskies and Clean Focus group. “The solar array in Alden, New York complements our large portfolio of municipal and small-utility solar projects. We look forward to a long relationship with Erie County over the lifetime of the project.”