FAQs about the Declaration Solar Project

What is the Declaration Solar Project?

Located in the Towns of Romulus and Varick in Seneca County, N.Y., the Declaration Solar Project is a proposed solar photovoltaic generating facility that will generate up to 200-megawatts of electricity. Energy storage may also be incorporated into the project.

The towns possess the critical elements required for a strong solar and energy storage project, including a strong solar resource, existing road infrastructure, access to transmission infrastructure, and available land in an area well suited environmentally to host such a project.

The Declaration Solar Project is proposed by NextEra Energy, Inc., the world’s largest generator of energy from the wind and sun.

How much land will it take up?

The project would be expected to use approximately 2,250 acres.

What will happen to the white deer that currently reside on the property?

This project is unique for a variety of reasons, including the property’s white deer population. NextEra Energy Resources, the project’s developer, is the right partner to responsibly and respectfully design, build and operate the Declaration Solar Project. As part of its development process, NextEra Energy Resources conducts thorough wildlife studies to ensure each site complies with all local, state and federal environmental regulations. Protecting wildlife and sensitive natural resources is a priority for NextEra Energy Resources.

We have had extensive talks with the landowner, and we recognize how important the white deer population is to the local community and the region. We intend to design our project with that in mind and we are confident the solar project and the white deer population can share this land successfully.

When do you expect this project to begin generating power?

The project is planned to commence commercial operation in 2023/2024 and will be designed to operate for at least 30 years.

Where will the power go? Do you have a customer for this project?

Electricity is expected to be delivered into the wholesale market and delivered to customers in Upstate New York. Commercial discussions are on-going.

How many panels will be used?

As solar technology is rapidly advancing, it is not possible at this time to determine the exact module type or count that will be used for a project with a commercial operation date in 2023/2024.

Where will the interconnection be?

Interconnection options are currently being evaluated and will be presented in the project’s permitting documents.

Will people be able to see this facility?

The majority of the project is not anticipated to be visible from the nearby roadside due to significant visual setbacks from the road and the use of vegetation that will form a visual screen.

Additionally, NextEra Energy is aware of differences in elevation that may make the project visible from long distances. As part of the state’s permitting process, we will conduct a viewshed assessment and line-of-sight analysis.

How will the local community benefit from this project?

The Declaration Solar Project has the potential to deliver new jobs, long-term revenue, and economic development to Seneca County and the towns of Romulus and Varick.

What specific benefits will the project bring?

The project is expected to bring numerous benefits to the region through a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement, which will provide revenue to the county, towns and schools to invest in infrastructure, additional services and resources for residents.

The project will create three to four full-time positions and 200+ jobs during construction. There will be opportunities for local businesses to supply materials to support construction of the project, and service industry businesses such as hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues will benefit from an increase in worker activity throughout construction.

The Declaration Solar Project’s goal is to hire as many workers as possible from the local area. The project will invest a significant amount of money in construction labor, creating employment opportunities for those in the construction trades, including equipment operators, truck drivers, laborers and electricians.

Why Romulus and Varick?

The towns of Romulus and Varick possess the critical elements required for a strong solar and energy storage project, including a strong solar resource, existing road infrastructure and available land in an area well-suited environmentally to host such a project.

What is NextEra Energy Resources?

Together with its affiliated entities, NextEra Energy Resources, is a clean energy leader and one of the largest wholesale generators of electric power in the U.S., with approximately 21,000 megawatts of net generating capacity, primarily in 37 states and Canada as of year-end 2019. NextEra Energy Resources, together with its affiliated entities, is the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in energy storage.