New York siting office denies permit for 42 MW Shepherd's Run solar project

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York's Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES) has denied Hecate Energy Columbia County 1, LLC a permit for the proposed 42 megawatt Shepherd's Run Solar Project in the Town of Copake, Columbia County, the state Department of Public Service said.

The department said ORES based the denial on its determination that the applicant had not demonstrated compliance with applicable environmental considerations, including flood protection requirements. The record included evidence from an adjudicatory hearing on wetland and flood protection issues held in Copake on Sept 14, 2026. The applicant awarded the town and other community intervenors $42,000 under ORES requirements, and the town used the money to hire experts.

"This project application did not meet New York's rigorous standards," Department of Public Service CEO Rory Christian said. The department said this is the third time a large scale renewable energy project proposed in the state has been denied through a state permitting process. ORES denied an earlier application for a 60-megawatt Shepherd's Run facility in February 2024.