CANTON — The New York Power Authority (NYPA) will take over majority ownership of the 240-megawatt Rich Road Solar array development. 

Under the terms of the deal announced today, the Power Authority—through its wholly owned subsidiary, the New York Renewable Energy Development Holdings Corporation (NYRED) — acquired majority ownership of the project and will serve as the 51 percent majority owner as legislatively mandated.

EDF power solutions, an independent power producer and service provider, will remain involved in the project’s development as minority owner and oversee construction of the solar array on the 1,400-acre site.

The deal utilizes the public-private partnership model established in the 2023-24 Enacted State Budget, NYPA said in a press release.

According to the Power Authority, the large-scale solar project will support more than 250 union construction jobs, and once operational, will contribute to the Power Authority’s Renewable Energy Access and Community Help (REACH) program, which provides bill credits to low-income New Yorkers.

Rich Road Solar, which is expected to commence construction in late 2027 and begin operating in 2029, is the first large-scale renewable energy project acquired by NYPA as part of a public-private development to ensure the project is built.

“Amid industry headwinds, NYPA has built the business structures, assembled a team of seasoned professionals, and refined the project pipeline needed to advance large-scale renewable development across the state,” said New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll. “This year, those efforts are bearing fruit: Rich Road Solar is the first NYPA project to leverage a public-private partnership model and secure expiring federal tax credits. We’re pleased to be partnering with EDF power solutions on this project as we bring this large-scale solar project to fruition. This project development demonstrates a successful model for New York State to accelerate clean energy projects statewide and strengthen New York’s grid with emissions free generation resources.”

Taxes and agreements tied to the project will be executed with the local community. The collaboration also enables NYPA to benefit from the direct-pay federal tax credits for its ownership stake.

“Rich Road Solar has been a long time in the making and today has taken a significant step forward to meaningfully contribute to New York State’s clean energy transition. By developing and building this project with NYPA as majority owner, we are demonstrating how public-private partnership can deliver competitive clean energy at scale. Together we are supporting the state’s availability of renewable energy, which benefits the host community, supports New York’s clean energy economy, and adds to the state’s diverse energy resource mix," EDF power solutions North America CEO Tristan Grimbert said.

The project’s 20-year Tier-1 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) contract was awarded as part of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) 2025 Renewable Energy Standard Request for Proposals.

In addition to direct economic benefits pledged to New York State by the project, additional benefits include $1.2 million in host community electricity benefit payments from commercial operation through the first 10 years of commercial operation.

NYPA has also committed to making $300,000 in annual contributions to the Renewable Energy Access and Community Help (REACH) program once the project begins operating.