Catalyze Commences Operation of Project in NYSERDA Community Solar Program

Catalyze, a clean energy transition company that finances, builds, owns and operates solar, battery storage and electric vehicle charging systems for commercial and industrial customers, celebrated the operation of its Amherst solar farm with a ribbon cutting attended by local officials.

The 6.4 MW solar farm will produce the entirety of its clean energy on behalf of the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority, which serves low-to-moderate income residential customers. The Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority was enrolled by Ampion, a community solar subscription management company. Over 1,300 housing units are subscribed to the Amherst solar farm.

The Amherst solar farm is helping the Town of Amherst fulfill its role as a NYSERDA Clean Energy Community, contributing to New York’s goals of distributed solar generation, as well as the need for projects to benefit disadvantaged communities. New York state is targeting 6 GW of distributed solar by 2025, 70 percent renewable energy by 2030, and 40 percent of clean energy investments benefiting disadvantaged communities.

"We’re proud to support New York’s efforts in building a clean, resilient and low-cost grid powered by renewable energy," said Steve Luker, CEO of Catalyze. "Community solar projects like Amherst offer the opportunity to provide lower energy costs and renewable energy access to everyone, including low-to-moderate income communities.”

The solar farm also utilizes sheep, shepherded by a landowner of the Amherst community, to maintain the vegetation on site during the grazing season. This provides the landowner with a new source of revenue as well, while having minimal negative impact on the solar site itself. In this way, this project offers the unique opportunity for Amherst residents to claim the benefits of a clean energy economy in a way that was previously inaccessible.