DEI Completes 7.9 MW NY Community Solar Portfolio for Generate
- News Policy & Markets
Marin Holt
- 0
- 5 minutes read
- EPC: Distributed Energy Infrastructure LLC (DEI)
- Owner/Financier: Generate Capital
- Total Capacity: 7.9 MW
- Project Names: West Genesee Solar, Cold Springs Solar
- Location: Lysander, Onondaga County, NY
Distributed Energy Infrastructure LLC (DEI), an EPC firm based in Stuart, Florida, has finalized construction on a 7.9 MW community solar portfolio for Generate Capital. The two projects, West Genesee Solar (2.9 MW) and Cold Springs Solar (5 MW), are located near Lysander in Onondaga County, New York. Mechanical completion was achieved on April 27, 2026, with grid interconnection anticipated in the second quarter of 2026.
The construction effort navigated a challenging winter season, enduring over 100 inches of snowfall. The projects employ ATI single-axis tracking systems and bifacial solar modules, which DEI claims offer 30-40% higher efficiency compared to monofacial panels. Local labor was provided by IBEW Local 43 electrical union.
Critical Perspective
This 7.9 MW portfolio is now complete. The claimed 30-40% efficiency gain from bifacial modules is a bold assertion, not yet proven at scale like First Solar’s thin-film technology. We saw similar optimism with the early solar farms in Arizona, which later faced performance degradation. What is the projected capacity factor for these specific trackers in upstate New York’s climate?
Why It Matters
The completion of this 7.9 MW portfolio highlights the persistence of community solar development in upstate New York, even through harsh winter conditions. The reliance on local IBEW labor underscores the job creation aspect of these projects. However, the Q2 2026 grid interconnection target also points to the ongoing delays within the NYISO interconnection queue, a persistent hurdle for renewable energy deployment in the state.
Generate Capital, the owner and financier, has a substantial community solar presence, with 430 MW operating across multiple states since 2017. Subcontractors involved in the Lysander projects included Schuler Haas/Ferguson Electric, DC Solar, Williams Fence and Excavation, and Greenside Services.
The successful construction and upcoming interconnection of this upstate New York portfolio add to the growing capacity of distributed solar generation. It also serves as a reminder of the logistical and regulatory complexities that continue to shape the pace of renewable energy build-out, particularly concerning grid access.
Sources
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/distributed-energy-infrastructure-completes-two-new-york-community-solar-projects-for-generate-capi
- https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2026/04/distributed-energy-infrastructure-installs-community-solar-projects-through-heavy-snowfall/
