The first Community Solar Farm in the Adirondacks is expected to start generating energy in 2020. Sunvestment Energy Group and RER Energy are collaborating to build and operate a community solar farm in Saranac Lake on state Route 86, just past Lake Colby. The property is owned by one of AdkAction’s founding board members and past board Chairman Lee Keet. Lee purchased the 22-acre property back in 1999 because Walmart was looking to build a store on the site and he thought it was in the best interests of the community to keep the megaretailer out. Now, instead of having a Walmart on the site, Saranac Lake residents are going to have access to solar power.
Many people aren’t able to put solar panels on their residences or businesses for a variety of reasons. Saranac Lake Community Solar fixes this problem through the installation of a locally situated and shared solar farm that is connected to the electricity grid. Residential and commercial customers can subscribe to the solar farm, meaning they agree to purchase electricity credits generated by the array. The new community solar farm in Saranac Lake will provide solar energy to about 250 homes with about 2.3 million total kilowatt-hours of emission-free energy into the local grid.
Of particular interest to AdkAction members is the fact that Saranac Lake Community Solar will be partnering with our Adirondack Pollinator Project to provide pollen and nectar to pollinator species that are critical to biodiversity and local food supply. Premium conservation-quality native flowering plant seeds will be sown under the solar panels to provide over 5-acres of new pollinator habitat. More information on the partnership will be released later this year. In the meantime, AdkAction is pleased to share this exciting opportunity to sign-up for updates with its members.
Residents can start subscribing for the service in March, and the project is expected to be operational by summer, but the subscription process will begin in March 2020 via an easy-to-use online platform. In the meantime, you can subscribe to a mailing list to receive project updates, press coverage, and other useful information about the project. Remember, the new community solar farm will be able to power about 250 homes, so the best way to vie for a subscriber spot is by signing up for updates at https://saranaclakesolar.com/.
