WATERLOO, N.Y. — Trelina Solar Energy Center, LLC recently won approval from the New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment (NYS Siting Board) to build and operate an 80 megawatt (MW) solar farm in the town of Waterloo in Seneca County.

The facility will be located on 418 acres within a 1,067-acre project area on privately leased or purchased land. The solar farm is expected to begin commercial operation in 2022, per a news release from the NYS Siting Board.

The developer says the project construction will employ between 85 and 128 construction workers, including onsite labor, electricians, equipment operators, construction managers, and foreperson jobs. Projections for direct local expenditures during project development and construction are about $16 million, with construction payroll being the highest at about $12.6 million.

Up to 90 percent of the total payroll is expected to be paid to workers in the region. In addition, there will be opportunities for local businesses to supply materials to support construction of the project, and service-industry businesses such as hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues will benefit from an increase in worker activity throughout construction.

The solar farm will result in annual payments to local landowners in association with the lease and easement agreements. Payments over 30 years are estimated to total $64.9 million, according to the release.

During the operation of the project, the developer expects to spend about $485,059 in total direct annual expenditures. Trelina expects expenditures for materials and equipment costs will be spent locally. The developer expects that agreements with the town, county and local school districts will provide about $10.7 million in additional benefits.

According to industry estimates, the 80 MW solar farm will produce enough electricity for 21,000 average-sized homes annually. Trelina is a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, one of the world’s largest generators of wind and solar energy, with generating facilities across the U.S. and in Canada.