On This Page
Looking for the data?
Explore our renewable-energy company datasets and contact databases.
Explore databasesNew York’s solar buildout continues at a record pace. Utility-scale and community solar farms now contribute more than 5 GW of photovoltaic capacity to the grid, driven by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and the NY-Sun incentive program. The development pipeline is robust enough to double that total before the end of this decade. Three developers control the lion’s share of operating solar farms NY capacity right now—and their strategies differ more than you might expect.
How Big Is New York’s Solar Industry Right Now?
By early 2026, NYSERDA data shows over 950 operating utility-scale and community solar farms in the state, and the interconnection queue holds another 200+ projects. The queue is a moving target, though; many applications get withdrawn after feasibility studies reveal grid constraints. Still, enough capacity has already been approved to push total installed solar past 10 GW by 2030.
Key policies that make this expansion possible:
- NY-Sun – upfront rebates and performance-based incentives for residential through utility-scale projects.
- Community Distributed Generation (CDG) tariff – allows multiple subscribers to share a single solar array’s output.
- Value of Distributed Energy Resources (VDER) – compensates projects for the energy and grid services they provide behind the meter.
- Brownfield Cleanup Program – offers tax credits for repurposing contaminated land as solar sites.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 3 GW of total solar capacity in NY |
| 2022 | Community solar enrollment surpasses 100,000 |
| 2025 | 5 GW operating capacity milestone reached |
| 2030 (projected) | Expected 10+ GW of installed solar |
NYSERDA’s count treats utility-scale plants and community distributed generation sites equally, but the interconnection queue only shows projects that have formally requested grid access. Not all will be built, so the pipeline is a leading indicator – not a guarantee of what will actually come online.
The Three Largest Solar Farm Owners in New York
1. Clearway Energy Group
Clearway owns more than 600 MW of operating capacity spread across 30-plus sites, making it the largest solar-farm owner in the state. The San Francisco developer arrived in 2018 and quickly scaled a portfolio that mixes utility-scale plants with community solar installations. Bifacial photovoltaic modules, which capture light on both sides, are standard at its New York facilities. The 90 MW Excelsior Energy Center in Albany County and the 50 MW Cider Solar Farm in Genesee County anchor a fleet that reaches into multiple upstate counties. Another 400 MW is under construction or in late-stage development, almost all of it backed by long-term power purchase agreements and renewable energy certificate offtake. Clearway’s contracted revenue stream gives it a predictable cash-flow profile that appeals to infrastructure investors.
2. Borrego (EDF Renewables)
Borrego took a brownfield‑first approach, converting former industrial land into productive solar fields. That niche has quietly made it New York’s second‑largest owner, with more than 350 MW of installed capacity. Since 2022 the Lowell, Massachusetts‑based firm has operated as a division of EDF Renewables, bringing the backing of a global energy group. The 20 MW Mohawk Solar facility sits on one such repurposed parcel in Montgomery County, and multiple community solar arrays across the Finger Lakes extend the model. Borrego’s New York pipeline exceeds 200 MW, with an emphasis on behind‑the‑meter offtake and municipal aggregation programs that tap favorable retail rate structures. Its focus on smaller, distributed projects gives it a portfolio very different from the utility‑scale giants on this list. If you’re a municipal planner looking to host a local community array, Borrego’s experience with aggregation contracts can shorten the negotiation cycle.
3. NextEra Energy Resources
NextEra’s New York holdings clock in above 300 MW, anchored by two large single sites. The 60 MW Athens Solar Farm in Greene County and the 50 MW Watkins Glen Solar project in Schuyler County together account for more than a third of that total. Watkins Glen stands out because it pairs photovoltaic generation with a battery energy storage system designed to firm intermittent output—a configuration NextEra has fine‑tuned across multiple states. Based in Juno Beach, Florida and operating since 1985, NextEra is already the world’s largest generator of wind and solar energy, and it brings that multi‑asset scale to its New York operations. A further 250 MW of projects sits in the company’s near‑term pipeline, almost all utility‑scale plants backed by long‑term PPAs with investment‑grade off‑takers. Co‑located storage and multi‑state asset management add wholesale market revenues on top of contracted income streams.
Owner Comparison at a Glance
| Owner | Installed MW | Typical Project Type | Key Differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearway Energy Group | 600+ | Utility-scale + community solar | Bifacial panels, long-term contracted revenue |
| Borrego (EDF Renewables) | 350+ | Community solar on brownfields | Municipal aggregation, behind-the-meter offtake |
| NextEra Energy Resources | 300+ | Utility-scale with battery storage | Co‑located storage and multi‑state asset management |
What Makes These Portfolios Profitable?
For solar farms NY, income rarely depends on a single source. Projects typically stack three to four revenue streams: wholesale energy sales, NY‑Sun renewable energy certificates (RECs), capacity payments, and—in the case of community solar—subscriber payments. Battery storage adds a new layer by capturing price spikes in wholesale markets.
Common mistake: Assuming a high‑capacity‑factor site alone guarantees financing. Without a 15‑ to 20‑year PPA or a firm REC contract, revenue volatility can kill the project. Lenders want predictable cash flows, not just a sunny location.
Expert nuance: Behind‑the‑meter installations that serve commercial customers directly avoid certain distribution charges, boosting effective net metering credits by 5–10% compared with front‑of‑the‑meter arrays in the same zone.
Decision rule: When comparing investment options, look at the blended revenue from energy sales, RECs, and capacity payments – not just the headline PPA price.
| Revenue Source | Approximate Share (for a 20 MW community solar project) |
|---|---|
| Wholesale energy sales | 45% |
| NY‑Sun RECs | 30% |
| Community solar subscription fees | 20% |
| Grid services / capacity | 5% |
Shares vary by project location and contract structure, but the table illustrates why developers prioritize REC‑rich incentive zones and subscriber‑dense utility territories.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many solar farms are there in NY?
More than 950 utility‑scale and community solar farms are currently operating in New York. That count includes projects of all sizes that have completed interconnection and are feeding the grid, according to NYSERDA. The interconnection queue holds proposals for over 200 additional sites, though many will be modified or withdrawn during detailed studies.
Who owns solar farms in NY?
The three largest owners by installed capacity are Clearway Energy Group, Borrego (a division of EDF Renewables), and NextEra Energy Resources. Dozens of smaller developers, such as AES Distributed Energy and local community solar operators, also hold capacity across the state.
How much money does a 1 acre solar farm make?
A 1‑acre solar farm in New York typically generates $1,000 to $2,500 in annual revenue. The wide range depends on the site’s capacity factor (often around 15%), current wholesale electricity prices, and the value of renewable energy certificates captured through NY‑Sun. Community solar subscriptions can add incremental income on top of those base figures.
What is the downside to solar farms?
Key downsides include land‑use competition, permitting delays, grid connection costs, and the need for storage to balance intermittent generation. These challenges don’t eliminate financial viability, but they narrow the list of suitable sites and can push project timelines out by 12 to 24 months.
List of Operating Projects
| Project Name | Location | Capacity (MW) | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excelsior Energy Center | Albany County | 90 | Clearway Energy Group |
| Athens Solar Farm | Greene County | 60 | NextEra Energy Resources |
| Cider Solar Farm | Genesee County | 50 | Clearway Energy Group |
| Watkins Glen Solar | Schuyler County | 50 | NextEra Energy Resources |
| Mohawk Solar | Montgomery County | 20 | Borrego (EDF Renewables) |
| Lima Solar | Livingston County | 20 | AES Distributed Energy |
| Cattaraugus County Solar | Cattaraugus County | 25 | Clearway Energy Group |