There are 60+ solar projects in various stages of development across NY. The big one in Cayuga County is call the Garnet Energy Center. The siting approval process can be followed at: http://documents.dps.ny.gov/public/MatterManagement/CaseMaster.aspx?MatterSeq=61792&MNO=20-F-0043
The solar panels and facility will be built on 1300 of the 2000 acre project. There is an Intervenor group formally involved in the proceeding called the Rural Preservation and Net Conservation Benefit Coalition. They are not trying to stop the project, but trying to encourage pollinator friendly planting and get some mitigation land set aside. I haven’t seen any sign that the developer is consenting. The documentation of the impact to breeding Horned Lark and Vesper Sparrow appears like it will be limited, so folks birding in the proposed project area (not far from Montezuma NWR) can contribute by looking for these two species and submitting sitings to eBird, especially this May and June. The project area has recently grown and maps can be found at the link above. Besides the renewable energy benefit, taking fields of neonic-laden corn and soy seeds and their associated herbicides out of production is a good thing. As far as we know, solar is more friendly to migratory birds than big wind regarding direct impacts, however no follow-up fatality studies are currently planned for ANY solar projects in NY. Substantial avian impacts from solar have apparently been a well-kept secret in California, so we need to keep an eye on it and push for some NY solar fatality studies. How could a grebe mistake a solar field for water? I don’t know, but it happens. In my current understanding, a 200 MW solar project in NY would have much less avian impact than the equivalent energy production from 70 600-ft high wind turbines in the same location. Bill Evans Danby From: david nicosia Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2021 8:31 AM Subject: Massive Solar Farm coming to Cayuga County All, see https://www.syracuse.com/news/2020/02/monster-cny-solar-farm-would-replace-corn-and-soybeans-with-power-for-30000-homes.html Does anyone have any more details on this? If it is done with wildlife in mind this could be a good thing. If they plant pollinator friendly and native grasses this could be a positive. But if it is just plain grass it could be at best just a trade-off and at worse a negative. These solar farms could be good for birds and pollinators. see https://www.audubon.org/news/can-solar-plants-make-good-bird-habitat Maybe you are all aware of this but the big renewable energy push through solar farms could be an opportunity to improve bird and pollinator habitats. Anyway, just wondering if any folks have information on this or have contacted solar farm companies on this. Best, Dave -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
