Swift Current Energy has announced that New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has awarded its Mineral Basin Solar project a 20-year power contract. Mineral Basin Solar is the largest land-based energy project to be selected as a part of NYSERDA’s competitive solicitation.
Mineral Basin Solar is a 402 MWAC project located on reclaimed coal mine sites in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. The construction of the project could commence in summer 2024 and the project is scheduled to be online by the second half of 2026. Once operational, Swift Current will remain the long-term owner and operator of the solar plant.
The construction of Mineral Basin Solar will create more than 450 direct full-time construction jobs. Additionally, Mineral Basin Solar will contribute money to the community, both through tax revenue and direct community benefits programs. The solar plant will avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the removal of 110,000 gas-powered cars from the roads every year.
In January 2023, Equinor and BP joined forces to bid in New York’s third offshore wind solicitation (NY3), having submitted a request to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The companies will compete in the NYSERDA auction for the Beacon Wind II lease area, which has more than 1.3 GW of potential clean energy capacity.
