Braving the Blizzard: New Solar Farms Bring Power and Jobs to Central NY

LYSANDER, NY – April 27, 2026 – As central New York thaws from a winter that buried the region in over 100 inches of snow, two new landmarks stand as a testament to resilience and progress. Distributed Energy Infrastructure (DEI), a leading solar construction firm, has announced the mechanical completion of the 2.9 MW West Genesee and 5 MW Cold Springs Solar Projects near Lysander. The 7.9-megawatt portfolio, developed for infrastructure investor Generate Capital, was built through the harshest months of the 2025-2026 winter, promising to deliver clean energy and local economic benefits upon its connection to the grid.

The projects, DEI's first in the region, are expected to interconnect with the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) grid in the second quarter of 2026. Once operational, they will feed enough clean electricity into the grid to power an estimated 1,200 to 1,600 average New York homes, providing a crucial supply of renewable energy during periods of high demand, including peak summer hours.

Winter Warriors: Building Solar Through Snow and Ice

Constructing large-scale infrastructure during a central New York winter is a formidable challenge. The 2025-2026 season was particularly unforgiving, with relentless snowfall creating snowy, muddy, and freezing ground conditions. Despite these obstacles, DEI's installation teams completed the mechanical phase of the projects on schedule and, most importantly, without a single safety incident.

"Completing these projects through one of Central New York's harshest winters is a testament to what our team is capable of," said Mike Wilkinson of Distributed Energy Infrastructure in a recent announcement. "Our crews pushed through snowy, muddy, and freezing conditions to stay on schedule and build safely. We're proud to deliver two high-quality projects that will bring clean energy to this community."

The success of the build was not just about grit; it was also about smart technology. Both the West Genesee and Cold Springs sites feature advanced hardware specifically chosen to maximize energy production in this climate. The installations use bifacial solar modules mounted on ATI single-axis tracking systems. Unlike traditional monofacial panels, bifacial modules capture sunlight on both sides. This allows them to generate power not only from direct sunlight but also from light reflected off the ground—an effect known as albedo.

In a snowy environment like Lysander's, this technology is particularly effective. Fresh snow can reflect over 80% of the sunlight that hits it, providing a significant boost to the panels' rear-side production. Research from institutions like the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has shown that bifacial panels in snowy regions can reduce annual energy losses from snow cover from double digits to as low as 2% and achieve winter energy gains of up to 19% compared to their monofacial counterparts. The single-axis trackers further enhance output by following the sun's path across the sky and can help shed snow by tilting, ensuring the panels are clear to generate power more quickly after a storm. This combination is expected to deliver 30-40% higher efficiency than a standard fixed-tilt, monofacial installation.

Powering Prosperity in Central New York

Beyond their contribution to the energy grid, the West Genesee and Cold Springs projects have served as a significant local economic engine. The construction phase brought a welcome influx of jobs and commercial activity to the Lysander area, demonstrating the tangible community benefits of the clean energy transition.

The electrical installation work was performed by skilled electricians from IBEW Local 43, ensuring high-quality labor and supporting local union workers. A host of other regional businesses were also contracted for the project, including Schuler Haas/Ferguson Electric, DC Solar, Williams Fence and Excavation, and Greenside Services Inc., which handled additional construction and landscaping tasks. This strategy of hiring locally ensures that a substantial portion of the project's investment circulates within the community.

"West Genesee and Cold Springs are a great example of what's possible when the right team, financing, and community come together," noted Peggy Flannery, Managing Director of the Investment Team at Generate Capital. "We're proud to bring clean energy and local jobs to Lysander, and to support central New York's growing role in the clean energy transition."

This model aligns with the growing trend of community solar, which allows residents and small businesses to benefit from solar energy without installing panels on their own properties. By subscribing to a share of a local solar farm, they receive credits on their electricity bills, making clean energy more accessible and affordable.

A Keystone in New York's Green Energy Ambitions

The 7.9 MW of new capacity in Lysander represents another critical step forward in New York State's ambitious climate agenda. The projects directly support the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), a landmark 2019 law that mandates a rapid and just transition to a clean energy economy. The CLCPA legally requires New York to generate 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and achieve a 100% zero-emission electricity sector by 2040.

To meet these targets, the state has aggressively promoted distributed solar development. New York has already surpassed its initial goal of 6,000 MW of distributed solar by 2025 and is now aiming for 10,000 MW. The state has become the nation's leader in community solar, with over 2 GW of projects installed, thanks to supportive policies like the NY-Sun incentive program and the Value of Distributed Energy Resources (VDER) tariff. VDER creates a stable compensation structure for projects like those in Lysander, valuing the clean energy they provide to the grid and making them financially viable for developers and investors.

The Lysander projects join a robust pipeline of renewable development in the state. According to NYISO data, dozens of solar projects are in development, reflecting a massive statewide effort to modernize the grid and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

The Financial Backbone of the Clean Transition

Large-scale projects like West Genesee and Cold Springs depend on a strong financial foundation, which was provided by Generate Capital. As a specialized investor and operator, Generate focuses exclusively on building, financing, owning, and operating sustainable infrastructure. The firm has become a pivotal player in accelerating the energy transition by providing the necessary capital for developers to bring projects from concept to reality.

Generate Capital has a substantial and growing footprint in New York. The firm has committed to investing over $60 million in the state's clean energy projects, spanning community solar, rooftop solar, anaerobic digesters, and fuel cells. In a recent partnership with KeyState Renewables, Generate helped close a $64 million fund to support 53.5 MW of community solar across 11 sites in New York. This long-term investment strategy is critical for scaling the deployment of renewable energy and meeting the state's climate goals.

By combining deep investment expertise with hands-on operational experience, firms like Generate are de-risking clean energy assets and attracting the billions in private capital needed to rebuild the nation's infrastructure for a low-carbon future. The successful completion of the Lysander solar portfolio is a powerful illustration of this synergy in action, where policy, technology, labor, and finance converge to create a more sustainable and prosperous community.