Adirondack Park Agency Approves 4-Megawatt Solar Facility in Ellenburg

The Adirondack Park Agency approved a 4-megawatt solar facility on a 54-acre site in Ellenburg, Clinton County. The project, located on abandoned farmland, will occupy 14.89 acres and includes fixed-tilt solar arrays, utility poles, and a new driveway.

Approval was granted after considering the carbon offset potential compared to existing forest carbon storage. The agency required the solar company to plant larger trees and maintain vegetation annually.

Concerns were raised about setting a precedent for tree-clearing in solar projects, with potential implications for environmental policy in the region. The facility is designed to offset significant carbon emissions within a year.