Bear Ridge Solar Project

About Bear Ridge Solar

In support of New York State’s Clean Energy Standard mandate to secure 50 percent of the State’s electrical supply from renewable sources by 2030, Cypress Creek Renewables is proposing to construct “Bear Ridge Solar,” a 100 MW-AC solar energy generation facility in the towns of Cambria and Pendleton, Niagara County, New York. The project is expected to be sited on approximately 900 acres and will safely generate enough clean, renewable electricity to power between 15,000 and 20,000 single-family homes. The project will also offset an estimated 160,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually, the equivalent of removing 15,000 cars from the road each year. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Social Cost of Carbon, a measure, in dollars, of the long-term damage done by a ton of CO2 emissions in a single year and the value of damages avoided through an emission reduction, the environmental benefit of this project will provide an economic benefit equivalent to $6.2 million per year to the State of New York.

Cypress Creek signs MOU with local NY laborers

Cypress Creek Renewables is proud to announce a Memorandum of Understanding with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, 3rd District for the construction of the Bear Ridge Solar Project. 
The proposed project is a 100 MW solar generation facility located in the towns of Cambria and Pendleton in Niagara County. The on-site construction of this project is anticipated to begin in 2023 and extent to 2024. 
This MOU means that construction of this project shall be completed by skilled members of IBEW, 3rd District 
“The labor agreement between Cypress Creek Renewables and IBEW Local 237 is going to provide local well-paying jobs to Niagara County electricians who pay Niagara County taxes and spend their money primarily in Niagara County,” John Scherrer, IBEW Local 237 Business Manager, said. 
Cypress Creek would use this agreement to hire skilled prime contractors to head various portions of the project construction. These contractors would then hire trained craftsmen, journeymen and workers to help construct the project. 
“This agreement is going to provide the opportunity for Niagara County electrical apprentices to learn and further their knowledge of renewable energy work providing the on-the-job training to excel in the quickly developing field of solar energy,” Scherrer said. 
This collaboration highlights Cypress Creek’s “support local” approach to construction of its facilities. It is one of two recently agreed to in New York. The other MOU is with Laborers’ Local 190 for the company’s Oxbow Hill Solar Project in the Town of Fenner, which anticipates filing an application in the state’s 94-c process in fall 2022. 
“Providing opportunities to the local job force in our project areas is an important part of Cypress Creek’s culture,” Marissa Scavo, Associate Director of Development at Cypress Creek Renewables, said. “We look forward to our continued collaboration with Laborer’s Local 190 and IBEW for our upcoming projects in New York State.” 
For more information about Bear Ridge, visit ccrenew.com/projects/bearridge/.

94-c Siting Process

• The Bear Ridge Solar Project has filed it's 94C application on November 30, 2021.
  
  Copies of the finalized application can be viewed at the following locations: 
  
  Cambria Town Hall 
  4160 Upper Mountain Road Sanborn, NY 14132 
  
  Pendleton Town Hall 
  6570 Campbell Blvd. Lockport, NY 14094 
  
  Sanborn-Pekin Free Library 
  5884 West Street Sanborn, NY 14132 
  
  Lockport Public Library 
  23 East Avenue Lockport, NY 14094

• Visit the 94c Process page to learn more about the siting process and the completed application. 

Community Outreach Office 

Our community office, located at 6421 Campbell Blvd, Suite B in Lockport, is currently open on an appointment only basis. Those wishing to visit the office with their questions are asked to email Community Engagement Manager Rikki Cason at Rikki.cason@ccrenew.com and let her know which date and approximate time they would like to stop in. Appointments will be made in 15-minute intervals. 

Masks and social distancing practices will be required during the entire visit. During this unprecedented time, virtual appointments can also be made through phone call or Zoom meeting.