Nautilus Completes First Community Solar Project at Former Defense Facility

Nautilus Solar Energy announces the opening of the first community solar project developed at the Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS). Located near the Northeastern Industrial Park in Guilderland, Albany County, New York, this innovative initiative demonstrates the transformation of a load into a significant environmental asset. The 2.8 MW project will provide clean energy to more than 260 New York homes and anchor subscribers on National Grid utility land.

“The successful development of this community solar farm at FUDS sets a new precedent for renewable energy projects. This is a source of pride for Nautilus as we contribute to the clean energy transition while supporting local economic growth,” said Eric LaMora, Executive Director of Community Solar at Nautilus Solar Energy.

The site, located on the site of the Altamont Municipal Landfill and Burn Site, was formerly the Schenectady Army Depot-Voorheesville Area, a critical U.S. Department of the Army facility from 1941 to 1969. The depot played a key role in receiving, storing, and transferring military supplies during World War II and the Korean War. Extensive environmental maintenance work on the site was performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the Environmental Protection Program for Formerly Used Defense Sites (DERP-FUDS). As a result, the community solar farm was developed with special features to protect the site. For example, the photovoltaic panels are mounted as a fixed-pitch ballast system on the vegetated cap of the landfill, ensuring minimal disturbance to the underlying structure.

The community solar farm allows subscribers who want the benefits of solar energy but cannot install solar panels on their homes to subscribe to community solar at a discount over the standard electricity rate. Community solar supports New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act), which requires the state to obtain 70 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The act also ensures that at least 35 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities (DACs) and low- and moderate-income (LMI) subscribers.

Construction of this project has generated local jobs and enabled the employment of full-time staff to maintain electrical systems and manage vegetation on the site.

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