Lightstar Renewables explains agrivoltaics project design in New York | Projects Weekly
From agrivoltaics in New York to one of the nation’s largest solar-plus-storage plants in California, this week’s solar project news spotlights innovation at every scale. This Projects Weekly includes news from developers and partners including Lightstar Renewables, Arevon, Prologis, Shell’s Savion and a Native-led nonprofit.
Lightstar Renewables plans agrivoltaics project in New York
Lightstar Renewables LLC proudly announces the launch of the Plains Road Agrivoltaics project, an initiative that seamlessly integrates solar energy production with agricultural use on the DiMartino Farm in Montgomery, New York. The agricultural consultant on the project was Solar Agricultural Services, Inc. (SolAg). This project demonstrates the new way farmers can both feed and fuel New York state – a forging together of both needed clean energy generation and vital agricultural production.
The Plains Road Agrivoltaics project was designed as an agricultural project from the beginning. The solar installation is tailored to accommodate hay planting and harvest equipment— the core agricultural activity of the DiMartino Farm— and will see an addition of two acres of vegetable production that will provide turnkey access to prime farmland for a new entry farmer. This trailblazing effort is expected to generate enough energy to power 466 homes annually while bolstering the long-term viability of the farm.
A critical foundation of this project was the adjustment of local bylaws to allow for agrivoltaics projects. The Town of Montgomery is one of the first in the State to tailor their bylaws to allow for agrivoltaics projects to maximize agricultural production – such as considering specific height restrictions, setbacks, and lot coverage. This shift highlights the growing acknowledgment of innovative land-use strategies to address the difficult challenges municipal leaders face when considering solar for their towns.
Lightstar is proud that the project aligns with American Farmland Trust’s Smart Solar principles, embodying a vision for responsible solar development that prioritizes farmers, communities, and the environment.
“Lightstar’s project is a prime example of the Smart Solar principles and reaffirms our commitment to fostering partnerships that benefit communities and protect our agricultural heritage,” said Linda Garrett, New York & New Jersey Regional Director at American Farmland Trust (AFT).
EDP Renewables North America readies two 100 MW+ projects
EDP Renewables North America (EDPR NA) has recently developed two 100 MW+ solar projects in completely different states Ragsdale Solar Park in Mississippi and Wolf Run Solar Park in Illinois.
Affordable Wire Management (AWM) supplied the cable management system (CMS) for both the 100-MW Ragsdale Solar Park in Mississippi and the 140 MW Wolf Run Solar site in Illinois. In addition to its CMS, AWM’s Bonsai Module Cable Hanger and SUMAC Rail were also installed at both projects.
“We are pleased to see the value that our CMS brings to partners like EDP Renewables North America and their customers,” said Scott Rand, CEO and Co-Founder of AWM. “Our innovative solutions play an important role in supporting projects that not only deliver environmental and economic benefits to communities, but also advance the adoption of clean energy at scale. AWM is proud to be a trusted partner on these important projects.”
Zuni Youth Enrichment Project Partners with Everybody Solar, Powers New Era of Sustainability for Zuni Youth
The Zuni Youth Enrichment Project, a Native-led nonprofit dedicated to promoting resilience and healthy development among Zuni youth in western New Mexico, partnered with Everybody Solar to install a 26.88-kilowatt solar array at the Zuni Youth Center. Serving more than 1,000 Zuni youth annually, ZYEP offers culturally rooted sports, arts and educational workshops designed to foster physical, mental and emotional health. Integrating traditional Zuni values with contemporary education, ZYEP provides a supportive space for youth to build resilience and a strong sense of identity.
The newly installed solar array, made possible with the expertise and partnership of Everybody Solar, is projected to generate approximately 48,250-kilowatt hours of renewable electricity per year, significantly reducing electricity expenses and the center’s carbon footprint.
“Our community’s growth demands creative solutions, and this solar project is a perfect example. It allows us to reinvest in our youth’s futures while caring for our environment – connecting our cultural values with real action,” said Tahlia Natachu-Eriacho, Executive Director from the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project.
Polar Racking partners with Conestoga College
Polar Racking partnered with Conestoga College to deliver a 1.37 MW DC fixed tilt solar PV system, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to environmental sustainability and innovative education. Installed across three acres on the Kitchener campus, this system is designed for high efficiency and minimal environmental impact. Watch the full project video above.
Joint venture forms to manage nearly 500 MW of Savion projects
Savion Equity, LLC, a subsidiary of Shell plc, and a fund managed by the Ares Infrastructure Opportunities strategy (Ares), announced the formation of Tango Holdings, LLC (Tango), a joint venture that will manage 496 megawatts of Savion-developed solar projects in Ohio, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Indiana. Savion is transferring majority ownership of five solar assets into this joint venture.
“The investment by Ares is a testament to Savion’s success building and operating assets that deliver renewable power to key energy markets in the USA,” Greg Joiner, Executive Vice President for Power at Shell, said. “Launching Tango with a strategic investment partner like Ares will allow us to maximize value of our power generation portfolio as we continue to build a more focused, competitive and adaptive business.”
Tango is jointly owned by Ares (80%) and Savion (20%) with equity interests in the Martin County Solar Project, the Kiowa County Solar Project, and in three additional solar projects currently under construction. Savion will serve as the managing member with Shell Renewable Asset Management International overseeing asset management of the projects.
Arevon‘s $2 billion Eland Solar + Storage Project now operational
Arevon Energy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the company’s Eland Solar-plus-Storage Project, which is now fully operational. Arevon’s two-phase Eland project, sited near Mojave in Kern County, is one of the nation’s largest solar-plus-storage facilities, with total capital costs of more than $2 billion. Combined, the Eland 1 & 2 projects will be able to power more than 266,000 homes annually, and overall, can provide 7% of the total electricity requirements for the city of Los Angeles.
Arevon developed and will own and operate the Eland Solar-plus-Storage Project, which has a total nameplate capacity of 758 megawatts (MWdc) of solar paired with 300 MW/1,200 megawatt hours of energy storage. Eland 1 reached commercial operation at the end of 2024, and Eland 2 recently commenced full operation — together, the two phases comprise 1.36 million solar panels and 172 lithium iron phosphate batteries (LFP).
“We are building a greener Los Angeles. Arevon’s Eland Solar-plus-Storage Project alone will generate enough power to serve more than 266,000 homes in Los Angeles and push the city’s clean energy share above 60 percent, a major milestone in L.A.’s transition to being powered by 100% clean energy by 2035,” Mayor Bass said. “This is L.A.’s clean energy future — I want to thank LADWP, Arevon, and all of the partners who made this occasion possible.”
The energy generated and stored by Arevon’s Eland is under long-term agreements with SCPPA, who delivers it to its members, LADWP and GWP. The batteries were manufactured locally in Lathrop, California.
But wait, there is more. To date, Arevon has contributed to several community-centered initiatives in the Eland Solar-plus-Storage project area. As the long-term owner and operator of the project, Arevon is committed to continuing its support for local programs throughout the life of the project. In partnership with the Safe Haven Kid’s League of California City, Arevon has helped provide food security, school supplies, infant care items, and workforce reentry programs. The company also supports the I Love California City Economic Development Group, funding infrastructure upgrades and clean-up events for Balsitis Park to promote outdoor activities and community well-being.
Jamestown installs PV system at Levi’s Plaza
Jamestown, a global real estate investment and management firm, announced the installation of a solar energy system at Levi’s Plaza, a nearly one-million-square-foot office campus located along San Francisco’s Embarcadero, in the city’s Northern Waterfront market.
Jamestown partnered with Wunder, a provider of commercial energy solutions, to deploy the 200-kilowatt solar energy system, which is projected to deliver energy cost savings while reducing the environmental impact of the property. The system came online in June and is part of a broader partnership with Wunder to evaluate and deploy solar across applicable sites within Jamestown’s real estate portfolio and development pipeline.
The solar energy system at Levi’s Plaza was a significant element in the property achieving net-zero operational carbon, becoming the first existing, large-scale commercial campus in San Francisco to reach this milestone. The solar energy effort was part of a broader $50 million retrofit, which also included eliminating onsite fossil fuels, converting heating systems to electric, and offsetting remaining emissions.
“Achieving net-zero operational carbon requires a multi-pronged approach, and at Levi’s Plaza, deploying robust solar energy systems was a key part of that strategy,” said Alex Schwiebert, Senior Vice President, West Coast Regional Market Leader at Jamestown. “Sustainability initiatives like this have proven to be a key driver for attracting tenants, while also reducing energy costs.”
“Our work with Jamestown continues to set the bar for sustainability and solar within commercial real estate,” said Dave Riess, CEO of Wunder. “From Larkspur to Levi’s Plaza, we’re seeing how solar can complement a property’s design and function while delivering long-term value to owners and their tenants. It’s always exciting to see a new commercial solar system deployed in downtown San Francisco, and we’re proud to continue growing this partnership.”
Prologis to develop largest rooftop community solar portfolio in Northern Illinois
ComEd and Prologis celebrated a rooftop community solar project in Chicago’s Franklin Park, the first of 45 installations that the global logistics firm is developing across Illinois over the next two years.
The Prologis portfolio is expected to generate 82 megawatts (MW) of solar energy, resulting in the largest rooftop community solar initiative in northern Illinois. More than half of the energy credits will be directed to income-qualified households, expanding access to clean energy in underserved communities in the Chicago area and beyond.
“We’re proud to join ComEd to officially launch this project, the first of many community solar projects that our energy team is deploying across our Illinois rooftops,” said Carter Andrus, Prologis’ Chief Operating Officer. “Illinois is one of the fastest-growing solar markets in the country, and we’re excited to help lead its momentum. For us, this is about more than solar panels—it’s about using our scale to make a real difference in the communities where we operate and bring the benefits of clean energy to more people across Illinois.”
SunVest Solar, a national developer and independent power producer, designed the Franklin Park 3 rooftop community solar installation atop a 195,000-square-foot Prologis logistics center. Prologis will own and operate the 1.56 MW community solar project, which will serve mostly residential customers, with the remaining community solar credits benefiting local businesses.
Prologis is constructing dozens of rooftop community solar projects in northern Illinois, including several in the Chicagoland region. There are currently about 200 active community solar projects interconnected to the ComEd system.
Calibrant energizes VDER project in New York
Calibrant has energized and begun generating Value of Distributed Energy Resources (VDER) credits from three front-of-the-meter battery energy storage systems in New York. Located across Westchester County, these systems utilize U.S.-manufactured battery systems to deliver a combined 13.5 MW / 55.7 MWh of dispatchable capacity to the Con Edison electric grid.
The Westchester portfolio plays an important role in stabilizing the grid, especially during peak summer demand—when electricity is most expensive and grid reliability is critical. In exchange for providing power when the grid needs it most and helping to reduce the need for costly new infrastructure, these projects are compensated through VDER bill credits that offset utility bills.
The Westchester systems showcase a novel commercial approach that enables large commercial and industrial customers to enjoy the financial benefits of distributed energy—without requiring them to host any infrastructure on-site. Calibrant secured 100% of the off-take through direct agreements with C&I customers, creating a pathway for large energy users to benefit from New York’s VDER program. Contracted off-takers include CoreSite—a major data center operator—and a large hospital institution.
This model delivers meaningful bill savings and proves especially valuable for organizations with space constraints or permitting challenges that would otherwise prevent on-site energy deployment.
