New York Power Authority Takes Majority Stake in Rich Road Solar
The New York Power Authority said on September 29 that it will become the majority owner of Rich Road Solar, a 240-megawatt photovoltaic project under development in Canton, St. Lawrence County, in the state’s North Country region. NYPA will hold 51% of the project — the threshold set by state law that allows the authority to co-own renewable generation with private developers — while EDF Power Solutions North America, the U.S. renewables arm of French utility EDF, retains the remaining 49% as a private partner.
NYPA’s first public-private renewable project
The deal is the first large-scale renewable project NYPA has acquired through this public-private ownership structure since state lawmakers expanded the authority’s mandate to develop clean generation alongside private companies. NYPA, which has historically operated hydroelectric and transmission assets rather than building new generation itself, has been under pressure to add renewable capacity as New York works toward the targets set out in its 2019 climate law.
Rich Road Solar is expected to begin construction in late 2027 and reach commercial operation in 2029, according to NYPA. The project is projected to support more than 250 union construction jobs during the build phase.
A funding path tied to bill credits
Once operational, Rich Road Solar’s output will feed into NYPA’s Renewable Energy Access and Community Help program, known as REACH, which channels bill credits to low-income households across New York. The structure lets NYPA pair new generation directly with a public benefit rather than selling the power purely into wholesale markets.
EDF Power Solutions North America has been developing solar and storage projects in upstate New York for several years, including earlier contracts with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Handing majority control to NYPA while keeping a minority stake lets EDF retain a financial interest in the project while tapping the authority’s lower cost of capital as a public entity.
Part of a broader New York buildout
The acquisition follows a run of renewable and storage awards in New York this year, including NYSERDA’s selection of 950 megawatts of battery storage across eight projects. Rich Road Solar adds utility-scale generation to that pipeline at a moment when developers elsewhere in the U.S. have flagged rising equipment costs tied to tariffs on imported solar modules.
NYPA has not said whether it plans to replicate the 51%-ownership structure on other projects, though officials have signaled interest in expanding the authority’s direct role in renewable development beyond its traditional hydropower base.
Sources
- Public Power, “New York Power Authority to develop 240 MW solar project,” 2026 — ownership structure, jobs figure, REACH program link.
- pv magazine USA, coverage of EDF Power Solutions North America’s upstate New York solar and storage portfolio — developer background.
- New York Power Authority public statements, September 29, 2026 — project timeline and location details.
Illustrative image. Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons — source
