Carson Power has overcome delays caused by bats and legal challenges to complete the clearing of 26 acres of forest in Pulvers Corners.
Completed in late December, the removal of trees marks a significant milestone for the renewable energy company. Its Pulvers Corners development will feature 24,000 solar panels upon completion. The installation will span 42 acres, leaving intact 88 acres of wooded land and 32 acres of agricultural fields across the 172-acre site.
Located near Route 199 and Bean River Road, the solar farm will produce enough electricity to power roughly 15,000 homes, according to Carson Power. Its energy will feed into the Central Hudson substation, advancing New York state’s goal of achieving a 70% renewable energy grid by 2030 under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
Courtesy of Carson Power
“We have completed all necessary clearing and are preparing for the next phase of construction,” said Andrew Gordon, director of development at Carson Power. “Our goal is to have the system fully operational by the end of the year.”
While the clearcutting is complete, the fate of the felled trees remains uncertain. Gordon said that Carson Power is working on a plan for lumber removal in accordance with the Tree Disposal Plan outlined in the project’s permit with the Pine Plains Planning Board.
Trevor Roush, a local forest practitioner who operates a forestry service Foliage Forestry in Pine Plains, sees an opportunity. “There’s significant worth in the wood that’s downed,” Roush said. “Even if it’s just locust fence posts, there’s potential for the lumber to be put to good use locally. I just hope it doesn’t end up chipped or wasted.”
The project has faced public criticism and even a lawsuit, over the potential environmental impact of felling 26 acres of trees. However, Roush noted that the forest cleared for the project was a “farm abandonment forest,” rather than old-growth native woodland. “It’s primarily locust, which is considered invasive in New York state forestry,” Roush said. “This was not a pristine forest — it was actually, in my opinion, well-suited for this kind of development.”
The solar farm is expected to operate for 25 to 30 years, after which Carson Power plans to dismantle the installation. Roush suggested that the solar field’s perimeter fencing could be repurposed as deer fencing, aiding potential reforestation efforts once the panels are removed.
With tree removal finished, the project now moves into its construction phase, which Carson Power aims to complete by the end of the year.