Saranac Lake Community Solar has partnered up with AdkAction to complete a local community solar project which will create 10 acres of pollinator habitat.

These 10 acres will provide a local source of clean energy for the village of Saranac Lake, as well as its surrounding communities. The solar farm will provide homeowners, renters, and businesses solar energy without the cost of equipment, installation and maintenance, and thanks to the support of AdkAction’s pollinator project, this will be the first pollinator-friendly solar farm in the Adirondacks.

A pollinator-friendly solar farm consists of adding native wildflower plantings under and around ground-mounted solar arrays, which replace gravel or turf grass as well as providing a source of nectar. This combination allows for the opportunity to further solar energy while also providing a solution to the threat of pollinator extinction while promoting bio-diversity and supporting local agriculture. New York state contains over 450 pollinator species, each of which are essential to the pollination of commercial crops, and the states ecosystem. Managed pollinator colonies have declined by more then 50%, and some commercial migratory pollinators have experienced colony losses of upwards 70%.

The 2-megawatt ground-mounted solar farm is being built north of Saranac Lake, and upon completion it will produce over 2.3 million kilowatt-hours of clean sustainable energy a year. Between 200 and 250 homes and businesses will be provided with clean energy from the project, which is receiving funding through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Subscription to this project is free, and subscribers can save up to 10% on their power bills. To learn more, and to subscribe, visit the following link.