ALBANY, New York (WWNY) – The state has given the green light for a solar farm spanning 622 acres in Jefferson and Lewis counties.
Department of Public Service announced Wednesday that the final siting permit has been granted to AES Clean Power for the Sugar Maple Solar project.
The company plans to build solar arrays on land in the towns of Wilna and Croghan. The project will generate 125 megawatts of energy. The developer says that’s enough to power more than 30,000 households.
According to the state, Sugar Maple Solar will create an estimated 434 full-time construction jobs and three full-time operations positions.
It will also mean nearly $15 million in payments and tax revenue to the affected counties, towns, school districts and fire districts.
People living in the towns of Wilna and Croghan will receive $625,000 in utility bill credits over the first 10 years of operation.
The state says the project’s design was revised during the application process in response to community input. 7 News first reported on the proposed solar farm in January 2025.
It says the permit minimizes above-ground power line construction, reduces tree clearing, and includes substantial landscaping to screen the facility and preserve the aesthetic value of the area.
According to the state, the facility will include solar arrays, access roads, fencing, landscaping, buried and overhead collection lines, a 20 MW battery energy storage system and interconnection facilities.
The project is expected to be in operation in 2029.
According to the state Department of Public Service, the developer still needs to hammer out agreements with the host communities before work can begin.
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