COHOES, NY — Cohoes, New York, is making history with construction of the first municipally owned floating solar array in the United States. HDR supported the groundbreaking project, which will generate renewable energy for the city, reduce residential electricity costs, and add resiliency to the local grid to achieve sustainability goals.

Working with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), HDR played a key role in preparing State Environmental Quality Review Act documentation and confirming regulatory permitting requirements for the floating solar installation, helping clear major hurdles for construction.

The City of Cohoes received financial support from multiple sources, including NY-Sun Program, a state initiative that aims to make solar energy more accessible to New York homes, businesses, and communities.

The floating solar array, located on the 10-acre Vilet Boulevard Reservoir in Cohoes, is expected to generate 4.15 megawatt hours of electricity in its first year — enough to cover electricity needs for all city facilities, with excess electricity for other uses.

“This project is a powerful example of how municipalities can lead the way in clean energy innovation and add resiliency to the local grid,” said Josh Gillespie, HDR’s Project Manager. “We’re proud to support NYSERDA and the City of Cohoes in bringing this vision to life.”