NYSERDA Awards 402 MW Solar Project to Swift Current Energy

New York State Energy Research Development Agency (NYSERDA) has awarded a twenty-year solar contract to Swift Current Energy. The Mineral Basin Solar project conferred upon the Boston-headquartered firm is for a capacity of 402 MW.

The Mineral Basin Solar project, which is the largest land-based energy project, has been selected under NYSERDA’s 2022 Renewable Energy Standard solicitation.

The Mineral Basin Solar project has been established on (reclaimed) coal mine sites in Pennsylvania. This makes it the largest solar unit in Pennsylvania and also among largest solar units in the United States to come up on what was previously mining land.

The project construction kicks off next year and is slated to begin operations in 2026.

One the project is set into operation, energy as well as Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) will be delivered to the New York Control Area. Swift Current will own as well as operate the solar project.

Eric Lammers, Co-founder and Chief Executive, Swift Current Energy said, “Clearfield County and Goshen and Girard Townships have contributed to the energy economy in the form of coal mining for generations.” He added, “The development, construction, and operation of the Mineral Basin Solar project will continue the community’s leadership in energy production and show how former mine sites can be innovatively repurposed at scale for a new and restorative purpose in the nation’s energy landscape.”

A few days back, Swift Current announced operationalizing its 197 MW Castle Gap Wind Project on Central Texas, under the Inflation Reduction Act.

The New York State Government has been stepping up efforts to augment renewable energy capacity additions. Notable among these are Community Offshore Wind and Clear Path NY. Under the Community Offshore Wind initiative, it provisionally awarded 1.3 GW capacity of community contracts recently.

Earlier, First Solar, a leading global provider of PV solar solutions revealed that it has entered into an agreement with Swift Current Energy. The agreement will pave the way for First Solar to supply Swift Current Energy  with 2 gigawatts (GW)_DC of high-performance, thin film solar modules in 2025 and 2026.