Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy, the New York Power Authority (NYPA), Colonie Town Supervisor Peter Crummey, Albany County Legislators and other project partners cut the ribbon today on Albany County’s first major solar photovoltaic (PV) ground-mount array on five acres of county property located at 897 Watervliet Shaker Road in the Town of Colonie. The 2.1-megawatt solar farm will generate 2,823,000 kWh per year equivalent to the amount needed to power 270 homes. The solar project will be owned and operated by Calibrant Energy.

“This project reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and a healthier environment,” said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy. “I’ve been proud to prioritize cutting carbon emissions during my time as County Executive, and this project is a major step towards accomplishing that goal.”

“Calibrant Energy is proud to partner with Albany County to provide a renewable energy solution that supports both local and state sustainability objectives,” said Philip Martin, CEO of Calibrant Energy. “This project demonstrates how collaboration between the public and private sectors can accelerate the transition to cleaner energy sources, delivering cost savings to taxpayers while fostering the development of local clean energy workforce talent.”

The county will purchase the over 2.8 million kilowatt hours of clean, renewable electricity generated by the farm each year, and be reimbursed for the power generated on county property, which is projected to benefit county tax payers in the long-term. The credits received will be applied to eight County facilities including the Shaker Place Rehabilitation & Nursing Center complex and the Harold L. Joyce Office Building.

“This solar project is a fit example of what can be accomplished when two levels of government work together in order to advance a worthwhile community benefit.  Overall, initiatives such as this, are crucial for advancing renewable energy opportunities and achieving sustainability within our community,” said Colonie Town Supervisor Peter G. Crummey.

The project was developed in collaboration with the Power Authority, which assisted with site analysis, managed the competitive bidding process, and provided ongoing support during contract execution and project installation through its Distributed Energy Resources team. NYPA also provided a $350,000 grant to assist with construction.

“NYPA has been a leader in renewable energy generation for more than 60 years and was pleased to partner with Albany County on the new solar array project – the first of its kind in the County. This partnership will bring additional clean energy online in the Capital Region and support the State’s transition to a more renewable and resilient energy future,” said New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll.

One of the additional benefits of sitting the solar array on Watervliet Shaker Road is the development of an educational program for students at the neighboring Capital Region BOCES and local schools. Through this partnership, students were able to participate in project construction, and going forward, they will be able to assist with maintenance of the solar array and monitor the site in real time. A group of 60 students from Capital Region BOCES and South Colonie High School took a tour of the site in April. 

Additionally, Calibrant partnered with the Shaker Heritage Society to replace the roof on the Shaker Meeting House at the Church Family Site, estimated at $35,000. This renovation was completed in December of 2023

“The 1848 Meeting House was the spiritual center of the Watervliet Shaker community. Today, it remains the cultural hub of our organization. The facility houses staff offices, library and collections space, and is our primary venue for programs and performances.

This solar project provided funds to help support installation of a new roof for the Shaker Meeting House in January 2024. A critical repair to preserve the integrity of the structure, this new roof also represents an important step in our ongoing efforts to improve the energy efficiency,” said Johanna Batman, Executive Director of the Shaker Heritage Society.

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0605- CE McCoy, Supervisor Crummey, New York Power Authority’s Christina Iwaniw and Calibrant Energy’s Bradley Richardson are joined at the ribbon cutting by members of the County Legislature and other partners involved in the project; 0577- CE McCoy in front of some of the solar panels at the solar array.