Introducing Oxbow Hill Solar
Building a Stronger Town of Fenner.
Oxbow Hill Solar is a 140-megawatt, utility-scale solar project that will supply power to approximately 30,000 New York homes.
Cypress Creek Renewables – Committed to a Better, Cleaner Future
Cypress Creek is a leading New York solar developer and operator. We have built over 35 projects statewide and manage an operating portfolio of roughly 85 megawatts across the Empire State. At Cypress Creek, we are committed to being good neighbors and seek to leave the communities we serve stronger than we found them. As part of our efforts, we support local initiatives across four primary focus areas: environmental sustainability, workforce education, economic development, and veterans affairs.
Helping New York meet its clean energy goals: Oxbow Hill Solar will support the State of New York in achieving its transition to 50% renewable energy, providing low-cost, clean renewable energy to homes across Madison County and the region.
Local Benefits, Statewide Impact
Oxbow Hill Solar will deliver real, meaningful benefits to the town of Fenner.
Creating Local Jobs
Oxbow Hill Solar will create more than 330 full-time equivalent job opportunities for local workers, including numerous construction and installation positions and others in related services.
Providing New Revenue for Community Priorities
Oxbow Hill Solar will provide new sources of revenue that the community can use to support local priorities. The community will benefit from significantly increased tax revenue compared to current usage and an innovative Host Community Agreement that will deliver additional public improvements and municipal services directly to Fenner.
Delivering Clean Renewable Energy
Oxbow Hill Solar will safely generate enough clean electricity to power nearly 30,000 local and regional homes each year.
Supporting Union Workers
Oxbow Hill Solar is proud to partner with the Laborers’ International Union of North America to create family-sustaining jobs for America’s union workers. Under this new partnership, members of the Laborer’s Local 190 will play a critical role in project construction starting in 2026.
Investing in New York Students
Oxbow Hill Solar is proud to provide a new $25,000 investment to SUNY Morrisville’s Agricultural and Clean Energy Technology Center. This investment will support students pursuing careers in renewable energy and help train the next generation of workers.
How We Build Solar Projects
Building a solar project is a complex, time-intensive endeavor. See how we bring more clean, renewable energy to New York.
Step 1
Planning
During the first stage of the project we locate suitable land near a transmission line or substation that has enough capacity to host our proposed project.
Step 2
Development
During this next stage of the process, we refine the project’s design layout, work to mitigate or avoid environmental impacts and apply for required permits.
Step 3
Construction
Once all permits are in hand, the construction of a project can proceed. Depending on the project, this can take an estimated 12-18 months.
Step 4
Operation
Construction concludes, and the project is connected to the electric grid as it begins to deliver power. Once operational, solar projects can operate for up to 40 years.
From Development to Decommissioning
The timeline below is a combination of actualized and estimated dates regarding the development, permitting, construction, and decommissioning of Oxbow Hill Solar.
Future dates listed are subject to change.
Oxbow Hill Solar Project Timeline
Before a project can be officially kicked off land must first be leased in a location with access to transmission lines.
Lease Agreements Authorized
Before diligence can truly begin on a potential solar site leases must be signed with willing landowners.
Title and Survey Work
Once leases are finalized and access to the land is granted then ownership and boundaries of the leased parcels are confirmed via desktop and on-ground surveys.
Diligence and studies must be completed for each site to make sure it is appropriate for solar development.
Zoning and Permitting Research
While title and survey work are being completed, the permitting process is refined so that it is custom tailored to the specific project being proposed.
Environmental Diligence
Once parcel boundaries are confirmed, and the correct permitting path is identified, environmental surveys and studies can begin. These studies help us avoid or mitigate environmental impacts. Correspondence with state and federal agencies is ongoing throughout this process to confirm study plans and results.
The NYISO completes studies to verify the viability of each project that is proposed to connect to the electrical grid.
Interconnection Request
Before the interconnection process can begin the owner of each project must first submit an interconnection request to the NYISO, have a scoping call with the NYISO and the relevant utility, and claim a spot in the Interconnection Queue.
Interconnection Studies
Studies are completed by the NYISO to validate the capacity at a project’s point of interconnection on a transmission line. Deposits are made by each developer to fund the studies. If upgrades are needed to support the project’s connection to the grid, then the NYISO will estimate dollar amounts and assign them to the project’s developer.
After the Interconnection studies are complete an agreement can be drafted between the NYISO, the Utility, and the Developer.
An Interconnection Agreement states the agreed-upon project size and dictates milestones and tasks that must be completed prior to project construction and connection to the grid.
Before a project can be built it must first acquire the necessary permits, which can vary based on project size and location.
Application Preparation
An application is prepared that contains numerous environmental, economic, and engineering studies. During application preparation, a developer is required to engage the local stakeholders and communities to inform them about the proposed project.
Application Submission
When an application is completed it is submitted to the Lead Agency, which reviews the application. A Lead Agency can request modifications to the application if more information is required before approval can be given.
When a developer has provided a satisfactory application then the Lead Agency can give approval and issue a permit.
Application Approval
After an application is approved, compliance filings may be required depending on the permitting process. Compliance filings under NYS 94-c Regulations can take up to a year to complete. This must be completed before notice to proceed (NTP) for construction can be given.
Construction of the solar facility can begin once all permits are in hand and construction-ready designs are completed.
Construction Phase
The construction phase can take anywhere from 12-18 months depending on start time and permit limitations. Breaks may be scheduled in order to avoid potential impacts to native species or to the local community.
Commercial Operation Date (COD) is often agreed upon by the NYISO, Utility, and Developer in the Interconnection Agreement.
Placed in Service
When a project is fully constructed it can be placed in service, meaning it is fully operational and producing energy. Maintained solar facilities can be operational for up to 40 years.
At the end of a facility's lifespan, the owner is responsible for the cost and effort of decommissioning the project.
Deconstruction
The developer or project owner is responsible for deconstructing and recycling all components of the solar facility at the end of its operational life. A decommissioning bond, equivalent to the expected cost of decommissioning at the expected time of decommissioning, is held in place in case the developer or owner is no longer able to actively control the process. All land and facilities are restored to their state prior to construction after decommissioning.
March 2016 - September 2021
Site Discovery
Before a project can be officially kicked off land must first be leased in a location with access to transmission lines.
Lease Agreements Authorized
Before diligence can truly begin on a potential solar site leases must be signed with willing landowners.
Title and Survey Work
Once leases are finalized and access to the land is granted then ownership and boundaries of the leased parcels are confirmed via desktop and on-ground surveys.
April 2020 - April 2024
Diligence and Environmental Studies
Diligence and studies must be completed for each site to make sure it is appropriate for solar development.
Zoning and Permitting Research
While title and survey work are being completed, the permitting process is refined so that it is custom tailored to the specific project being proposed.
Environmental Diligence
Once parcel boundaries are confirmed, and the correct permitting path is identified, environmental surveys and studies can begin. These studies help us avoid or mitigate environmental impacts. Correspondence with state and federal agencies is ongoing throughout this process to confirm study plans and results.
October 2019 - October 2022
Interconnection Request and Studies
The NYISO completes studies to verify the viability of each project that is proposed to connect to the electrical grid.
Interconnection Request
Before the interconnection process can begin the owner of each project must first submit an interconnection request to the NYISO, have a scoping call with the NYISO and the relevant utility, and claim a spot in the Interconnection Queue.
Interconnection Studies
Studies are completed by the NYISO to validate the capacity at a project’s point of interconnection on a transmission line. Deposits are made by each developer to fund the studies. If upgrades are needed to support the project’s connection to the grid, then the NYISO will estimate dollar amounts and assign them to the project’s developer.
June 2023 - March 2025
Interconnection Agreement
After the Interconnection studies are complete an agreement can be drafted between the NYISO, the Utility, and the Developer.
An Interconnection Agreement states the agreed-upon project size and dictates milestones and tasks that must be completed prior to project construction and connection to the grid.
April 2024
Siting Application
Before a project can be built it must first acquire the necessary permits, which can vary based on project size and location.
Application Preparation
An application is prepared that contains numerous environmental, economic, and engineering studies. During application preparation, a developer is required to engage the local stakeholders and communities to inform them about the proposed project.
Application Submission
When an application is completed it is submitted to the Lead Agency, which reviews the application. A Lead Agency can request modifications to the application if more information is required before approval can be given.
November 2024 - November 2025
Siting Approval and Permit Issuance
When a developer has provided a satisfactory application then the Lead Agency can give approval and issue a permit.
Application Approval
After an application is approved, compliance filings may be required depending on the permitting process. Compliance filings under NYS 94-c Regulations can take up to a year to complete. This must be completed before notice to proceed (NTP) for construction can be given.
May 2026 - September 2027
Construction
Construction of the solar facility can begin once all permits are in hand and construction-ready designs are completed.
Construction Phase
The construction phase can take anywhere from 12-18 months depending on start time and permit limitations. Breaks may be scheduled in order to avoid potential impacts to native species or to the local community.
September 2027 - September 2067
Commercial Operation
Commercial Operation Date (COD) is often agreed upon by the NYISO, Utility, and Developer in the Interconnection Agreement.
Placed in Service
When a project is fully constructed it can be placed in service, meaning it is fully operational and producing energy. Maintained solar facilities can be operational for up to 40 years.
October 2067
Decomissioning
At the end of a facility's lifespan, the owner is responsible for the cost and effort of decommissioning the project.
Deconstruction
The developer or project owner is responsible for deconstructing and recycling all components of the solar facility at the end of its operational life. A decommissioning bond, equivalent to the expected cost of decommissioning at the expected time of decommissioning, is held in place in case the developer or owner is no longer able to actively control the process. All land and facilities are restored to their state prior to construction after decommissioning.
Helpful Documents and Downloads
The documents below are correspondences from Oxbow Hill Solar developers to the town of Fenner. All permit application documents will be located on the ORES Permits web page under Matter Number (23-00060). Please reach out if you have any questions.
You Have Questions, We Have Answers!
Below we have included information about ORES and the 94-c Permitting Application submission and review process. There are many ways to get involved. Please reach out via our contact form if you have questions about how the project will impact the local community.
What is the Section 94-c Process?
On April 3, 2020, New York enacted the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act (2020 Renewables Act), landmark environmental legislation which included a new executive law. Executive Law §94-c (Section 94-c) created the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES).
Section 94-c established ORES as a new state agency within the Department of State. Since its formation, ORES enacted a regulatory framework for the siting of major renewable energy facilities, and protocols for the receipt and processing of siting permit applications received. Effective March 3, 2021, ORES promulgated its new regulations at 19 NYCRR Part 900.
The siting permit review process is conducted by ORES pursuant to Section 94-c and the ORES’s regulations at 19 NYCRR Part 900. These regulations contain several features requiring public notice of applications, public access to application materials, and opportunities to participate in the 94-c review process; these laws also provide significant funding for Local Agencies and eligible Potential Community Intervenors to retain qualified expertise to represent their interests and participate in the 94-c application review process.
Regulations Implementing Section 94-C of the Executive Law
Oxbow Hill Solar 94-c Permitting Application Materials
How can I receive updates about this project?
First: Create a My Ny.Gov ID Account.
Open https://my.ny.gov/ and click “Don’t Have an Account”.
Choose “Person” to sign up for a personal account and enter the required information.
Complete the activation steps by logging into your email and clicking on the activation link.
Complete the activation process and click “Continue” to navigate to the password settings.
Enter and save a new password.
Second: Log into Your Account for the First Time.
Once you have completed the account set-up, navigate to the ORES Permit Portal.
Enter your My.NY.gov username and password. You will be prompted to confirm your email address. Once confirmed, you will be sent an email to complete your registration.
Click on the link to complete registration. This process will entail entering your credentials, including name and mailing address.
Once you are fully registered, you can subscribe to receive notifications on the application.
Third: Manage Your Service List and Party List Subscriptions.
To monitor the proceedings of the Oxbow Hill Solar application, subscribe to the service list and/or party list.
To do so, login to the ORES permit portal using your My.NY.gov account at the link below.
From the homepage, click on Manage Your Service List & Party List Subscriptions. Enter the permit application number (23-00060) or search for the permit application.
Add the organization in the Appearing on Behalf of field. You can enter yourself in this field. Then choose the Electronic Consent and Email Preference you wish and hit Subscribe.
Once you are fully registered, you can subscribe to receive notifications of the application.
How to access documents from the ORES website:
From the ORES website (linked below), click the “Permit Applications” tab, which will connect you to the part of the site regarding pending projects. You will be able to view and access projects that have submitted notices of intent, projects that are under review, and permitted projects. Simply click on the project’s associated matter number to view and access documents related to the project. The matter number for the Oxbow Hill Solar application is 23-00060.
ORES Permit
How can I receive intervenor funding?
Pursuant to Subpart 900-5 of the Regulations, local agencies and potential community intervenors seeking funds from the local agency account may submit a request to the Office within thirty (30) days after application filing, and a notice will be issued by ORES providing details on the process and timing for making such requests for funds as soon as the application is filed. In general, such requests should be made to the Office of Renewable Energy Siting, at the Albany, New York office, Attention: Request for Local Agency Account Funding.
How can I get in contact with ORES?
ORES Staff Contact Information:
ORES
Phone: (518) 473-4590
[email protected]
Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES)
c/o: OGS Mailroom
Empire State Plaza
P-1 South, J Dock
Albany, N.Y. 12242
We Want to Hear From You!
At Cypress Creek, we know that the best projects come from working collaboratively with our municipal hosts and local residents. Please reach out today to have your questions answered or speak with a member of our team.