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Resistance grows against New York’s 18 planned solar farms that locals say ruin land, kill animals and won’t create much energy

Nypost · · 1449 words · By Chadwick Moore
Rural vs. Urban/State Power Environmental Impact of Green Energy Climate Change Skepticism
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What to know about Rural vs. Urban/State Power

Resistance grows against New York’s 18 planned solar farms that locals say ruin land, kill animals and won’t create much energy See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 21
Techniques found 5
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center50%
Right50%

2 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Resistance grows against New York’s 18 planned solar farms that locals say ruin land, kill animals and won’t create much energy See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The New York Post on GoogleNew York is strong-arming 18 industrial-scale solar power plants into rural communities across the state despite strong opposition from locals.

Common ground

Schuylerville farmer Alexandra Fasulo had just settled into the idyllic acreage she purchased in 2023 when Gov.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling, Smears: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/25/us-news/resistance-grows-against-new-yorks-18-plan…

psychologyDetected Techniques

warning
Loaded Language 90% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
warning
Name Calling / Labeling 85% confidence
Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.
warning
Smears 80% confidence
Using damaging allegations to undermine a person's reputation.
warning
Appeal to Anger 70% confidence
Provoking outrage to bypass rational evaluation of an argument.
warning
Exaggeration / Hyperbole 80% confidence
Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

21 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

schedule Pending 11
info Single Source 3
verified Verified 2
help Insufficient Evidence 2
cancel Disputed 1
verified Verified By Reference 1
check_circle Corroborated 1
info
“New York is strong-arming 18 industrial-scale solar power plants into rural communities across the state”
SINGLE SOURCE
While one web search result mentions 'Resistance grows against New York's 18 planned solar farms', there is no independent corroboration from other news organizations or official state documents confirming the specific number of 18 'industrial-scale' plants being 'strong-armed' into rural communities.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — New York, also called New York State, is a state located in the northeastern United States. Bordering New England to its east, Canada to its north, and Pennsylvania and New Jersey to its south, it ext…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_(state)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_State_Assembly
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — New York State Route 18 (NY 18) is an east–west state highway in western New York in the United States. It runs parallel to the south shore of Lake Ontario for most of its length between Niagara Count…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_State_Route_18
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“Gov. Kathy Hochul’s bulldozers came roaring in, poised to thrash 1,800 acres of protected grassland to build a 100-megawatt-capacity solar energy complex in nearby Fort Edward, NY.”
DISPUTED
There is a direct contradiction regarding the size of the project. One source claims 1,800 acres of protected grassland, while the Glens Falls Chronicle reports the facility is planned for 530 acres. Both agree on the 100-megawatt capacity in Fort Edward.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Fort Edward is a town and the county seat of Washington County, New York, United States. The population was 5,991 at the 2020 census. The municipal center complex is on U.S. Route 4 between the villag…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Edward,_New_York
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Fort Edward station (also known as the Fort Edward–Glens Falls) is an intercity train station in Fort Edward, New York. It was originally built as a Delaware and Hudson Railroad depot in 1900, as a re…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Edward_station
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The United States Army Rangers are U.S. Army personnel who have served in any unit which has held the official designation of "Ranger". The term is commonly used to include graduates of the Ranger Sch…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Rangers
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
“New York’s green energy mandate went into effect with 2019’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which requires 70 percent of statewide electricity to come from “renewable” sources; a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels; and at least 3,000 megawatts of energy storage capacity.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and other web sources confirm the CLCPA was signed in 2019 and set goals for a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2030. The 70% renewable electricity target is a standard component of the act's mandates.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group is a group of 96 cities that represents one twelfth of the world's population and one quarter of the global economy. Created and led by cities, C40 is focused on fi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C40_Cities_Climate_Leadership_…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) is a plan signed into law on July 18, 2019 to address climate change and reach net zero emissions in New York State. The Act sets the goals …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_Leadership_and_Communi…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Present-day climate change includes both global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its wider effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also inclu…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
“Hochul set up the Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES)”
VERIFIED
Multiple sources, including official NY.gov and news reports, confirm the existence of the Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES) and its association with Governor Hochul's administration.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 New York gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of New York. Incumbent Democratic governor Kathy Hochul is running for re-election to a s…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_New_York_gubernatorial_el…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Alex Bores (born November 2, 1990) is an American politician serving as a member of the New York State Assembly for the 73rd district. Elected in November 2022, he assumed office on January 1, 2023. H…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Bores
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The mayor of New York City, officially mayor of the City of New York, is head of the executive branch of the government of New York City and the chief executive of New York City. The mayor's office ad…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_of_New_York_City
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
“Each of the 18 sites ORES has selected will have a capacity over 25 megawatts.”
VERIFIED
Official guidance from NYSERDA and Lewis County planning documents confirm that projects producing over 25 MW must go through the ORES process, supporting the claim that ORES-selected sites exceed this capacity.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Apr 29, 2026 ... Pj Smith Not that much for the last 6 months in Monroe County and all of Western NY. 3w · 3 likes. Terry ...
https://www.facebook.com/100044143493996/posts/new-york-stat…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — While municipalities have sole permitting authority for solar projects under 25 MW, it is required for the Office of Renewable Siting and Electric ...
https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/-/media/Project/Nyserda/Files/Pro…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jul 20, 2023 ... • Any project that produces over 25 MW must go through the Office of Renewable Energy. Siting(ORES). • Projects that are between 20-25 MW have ...
https://lewiscountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Final-S…
info
“The agency also has an additional dozen wind projects in the works.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence discusses wind energy generally or in other regions (Ontario, Germany), but does not mention a specific count of 12 wind projects currently in the works by ORES in New York.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Humans have harnessed wind energy since at least 3500 BC. Until the 20th century, it was primarily used to power ships, windmills and water pumps. Today, the vast majority of wind power is used to gen…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — In Ontario, the Green Energy Act of 2009 specifically exempted all wind/solar projects from all municipal official plans or land use designations. If such a project was approved by the Province, they …
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2026/05/16/after-solar-and-wind-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Project development and repowering.Tom Lange, Head of Wind and PV Germany at ENERTRAG, says: “The site demonstrates that wind energy works in the forest. Damaged forest areas can be put to good use fo…
https://enertrag.com/news-and-press/press-releases/2026/two-…
info
“Some of the largest projects are the 4,000-acre (6.25-square-mile), 500-megawatt Cider Solar Farm in Genesee County and the 2,000-acre (3.1-square-mile) Ridge View Solar Farm in Niagara County”
SINGLE SOURCE
A Facebook post mentions the 500 MW Cider Solar project in Genesee County, but there is no independent corroboration for the specific acreage of 4,000 acres for Cider or the 2,000-acre figure for Ridge View Solar Farm in the provided evidence.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Dairy represents the largest agricultural industry in the State, utilizing. 28% of the State's 6.5 million acres of farmland. Based on the 2022 New York State ...
https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/-/media/Project/Nyserda/Files/Pub…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Apr 10, 2025 · Let's pay attention to this group in Genesee County NY…. The 500 MW Cider Solar project received the first permit of its kind issued by the ...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/221782186918238/posts/677233…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 8 hours ago · The Daily Yonder reports on agrivoltaics, blending solar energy with farming to address land-use concerns and boost farmers' income amidst ...
https://www.aol.com/articles/finding-middle-ground-solar-deb…
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“many of the multibillion-dollar solar contracts have been farmed out to foreign companies — including Canada’s Boralex, France’s EDF Renewables, and South Korea’s Cypress Creek Renewables”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that Boralex (Canada) and EDF Renewables (France) have been awarded contracts in New York. Wikipedia confirms EDF is a French subsidiary. While Cypress Creek is mentioned in the claim, the evidence strongly supports the involvement of the other foreign entities.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — EDF Power Solutions (formerly EDF Renouvelables & EDF Renewables) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the French utility EDF Group, specializing in renewable energy production.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EDF_Renewables
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Boralex France.These contracts were awarded as part of NYSERDA’s 2024 Renewable Energy Standard Competitive Solicitation for the purchase of New York Tier-1 Eligible Renewable Energy Certificates (REC…
https://us.boralex.com/en/newsroom/us-growth-strategy-borale…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Image: Boralex. New York has awarded 22 solar PV projects totalling 2.4GW of power, including six co-located sites with a combined 159MW of battery energy storage systems (BESS).
https://mainlandtimes.com/new-york-awards-159mw-of-co-locate…
help
“studies like those from the New York Independent System Operator show actual output will be about 15 percent of that number, given the gloomy climate.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the search results regarding NYISO studies claiming solar output is only 15% of rated capacity.
help
“California’s $2.2 billion Ivanpah Solar Power Facility in the Mojave Desert is set to close this year after only a decade in operation”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the search results regarding the closure of the Ivanpah Solar Power Facility in 2024/2025.
schedule
“the Fort Edwards site sits inside a NYS Department of Environmental Conservation-managed grassland and bird sanctuary”
PENDING
schedule
“The species impacted by the development include the endangered short-eared owl (fewer than 50 breeding pairs remain in the state, per the Grassland Bird Trust), the threatened northern harrier and 15 species of reptiles and amphibians of “conservation concern””
PENDING
schedule
“Chicago-based developer Hecate Energy scooped up over 700 acres of productive farmland to install a planned 42-megawatt-capacity solar facility [in Copake]”
PENDING
schedule
“An assessment by NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation found the solar plant also will have an adverse impact on five historic and cultural sites in the area”
PENDING
schedule
“Article IX of the New York state constitution grants local authorities power to legislate land use”
PENDING
schedule
“President Trump has canceled billions in solar grants and frozen wind farm leasing on federal land.”
PENDING
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“In April, ORES boss Zeryai Hagos suddenly quit”
PENDING
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“Montgomery County... is the latest local government to sue ORES.”
PENDING
schedule
“Developers were permitted to gobble up 6,400 acres (10 square miles) — most of it active farmland — for two massive solar complexes near the towns of Canajoharie and Root.”
PENDING
schedule
“decommission — estimated at $30 million for one Montgomery County site, according to a report commissioned by the county”
PENDING
schedule
“Montgomery County already has two inactive, decaying solar farms that have languished after being abandoned by developers”
PENDING
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.