Buffalo, NY – October 22, 2025 – CleanCapital, a leading clean energy developer specializing in repurposing environmentally compromised sites, has finalized the construction of a 3.59-megawatt (MW) solar farm on a former industrial property in downtown Buffalo. Situated on a 15-acre parcel of the long-idled Bethlehem Steel site along the Niagara River, the project transforms a symbol of industrial decline into a modern renewable energy hub, powering local businesses, schools, and municipal facilities.
A Legacy Site Reimagined
Niagara Ridge Solar is a planned project on a parcel located at the former site of the Bethlehem Steel plant – an industrial powerhouse that was operational throughout the 20th century and employed thousands of workers when it was operational. The project site has been blighted since the collapse of the steel industry, leaving it in a state of neglect. CleanCapital has partnered with local partners (Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and SUNY Buffalo State) with the aim of transforming the brownfield site into a solar array that delivers enough energy annually for approximately 700 homes.
“This has been an eyesore in our community for decades,” said Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown. “And this is a classic win-win situation of a green energy site, while addressing environmental concerns, creating jobs, and growing our economy.”
The solar farm makes use of bifacial solar panels that are mounted to single-axis trackers, so that energy production can be optimized as the sun changes across the sky during Buffalo’s day. The system has been configured to make it easier for connection to the existing grid and to provide local consumers with a safe source of energy.
Community Impact and Partnerships
CleanCapital has partnered with M&T Bank to provide $42 million in project financing, utilizing tax credits through the Inflation Reduction Act to lower initial costs. The financing structure includes a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Kaleida Health, Buffalo’s largest healthcare provider, and Canisius University, a private Catholic school.
“Sustainability complements our mission to serve the community holistically,” stated Joseph Snodgrass, facilities director of Canisius University. “This project decreases our carbon footprint while stabilizing energy expenses, which is a large benefit in today’s volatile energy market.”
The Niagara Ridge Solar project also accompanies Buffalo’s Revitalizing Underutilized Properties initiative to convert vacant or underutilized industrial sites into sustainable assets of economic development. CleanCapital committed $1.2 million for a community benefits fund, as part of the agreement, to fund green infrastructure improvements within surrounding neighborhood and school scholarships for local students pursuing a STEM degree.
Environmental and Economic Benefits
The project offers significant environmental improvements. Niagara Ridge Solar will displace electricity generated using fossil fuel which is anticipated to decrease carbon emissions by 2,800 metric tons per year, the equivalent of taking 600 gasoline powered vehicle off the road. This site is also a brownfield, which means developing a previously disturbed area is an improvement to environmental impacts than developing on a greenfield site.
The project also contributed to developing and supporting the local economy by creating 45 construction jobs and 5 permanent jobs for ongoing project maintenance. CleanCapital also had partnerships with local unions to prioritize hiring workers that live in Buffalo’s historically marginalized communities, demonstrating the company’s commitment to equitable workforce development.
Future Vision for Buffalo’s Energy Landscape
Challenges and Lessons Learned
Like other solar projects located in an urban environment, the project also encountered site challenges, including costs associated with soil remediation and the management of historic preservation regulations. CleanCapital handled the soil contamination with a phased remediation approach, working with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to ensure the project was following the brownfield redevelopment requirements.
“We took a complicated regulatory process and turned it into a roadmap for best practices,” mentioned Paul Curran, CleanCapital Chief Development Officer and a long time Buffalo renewable energy professional. “This site will be a prototype for future projects in industrial corridors across the country.”
Conclusion
As Niagara Ridge Solar becomes operational, it highlights Buffalo’s rise as a center of clean innovation. In demonstrating the marriage of environmental stewardship and economic revitalization, CleanCapital has helped to advance the concept of how cities can develop brownfields into sustainable land for energy independence and resilience in their communities.
Post time: Oct-22-2025