CS Energy details two 20 MW solar projects proposed in Fort Edward

Evan Callahan, who identified himself as "the Senior Project Developer with CS Energy," told the Town Board the company is developing two utility-scale solar projects in Fort Edward: Somers Solar, located between Hunter and Duer roads, and Dolan Solar, along Patterson Road adjacent to Woodard Road. "They are both 20MW/AC, enough to power 3,000–4,000 NY homes per year," Callahan said, and added that Somers has received site-plan approval and a SEQR negative declaration while Dolan has been redesigned and is seeking approvals.

Callahan said returns on utility-scale projects are driven by state contracts and generally fall in the 6–8% range; he estimated each project would create about 100 construction jobs (largely part-time) and a small number of long-term operations positions. He said Somers will clear roughly 10–15 acres of trees and Dolan about 32 acres, and noted that Dolan involves approximately 0.8 acres of regulated adjacent-area impacts to wetlands for which a DEC permit is required. Callahan said the company expects to return to the board to discuss Host Community Agreements and decommissioning agreements once permitting is complete.