State Sen. George Borrello on Wednesday called on Gov. Kathy Hochul to halt the proposed Hecate Energy Cider Solar and Excelsior Solar projects in Genesee County, citing the irreversible loss of prime farmland and severe consequences for New York’s agricultural economy.

In a formal letter sent to the governor, Borrello expressed strong opposition to the industrial-scale solar projects planned for the towns of Oakfield, Elba, and Byron. “These developments are transforming our most productive farmland into permanent industrial sites,” he said. “This is not only an assault on rural communities, but a direct threat to our food supply and agricultural future.”

According to Cornell University research, a majority of solar installations in New York State occupy former cropland and prime farmland. Once land is cleared and compacted for solar use, it is effectively lost to agriculture, destroying wetlands, wildlife habitats, and local ecosystems in the process. Borrello argues that the state’s current oversight is minimal, leaving local voices unheard.

Genesee County has become a hotspot for large-scale solar development, with more than 8,400 acres either approved or proposed for industrial solar use. Of that, over 6,200 acres are classified as Strategic Prime Soil, land essential for growing high-yield crops such as cabbage, carrots, onions, and feed critical to the dairy and livestock industries.

“New York has invested millions in agricultural infrastructure, from processing plants to herd expansions,” Borrello said. “Yet those investments are being undermined by policies that allow our best farmland to be paved over by industrial solar projects.”

The senator also noted that agribusinesses, including HP Hood, OATKA Milk, Yancey’s Fancy, and Upstate Niagara, depend on regional farms to remain viable. “The sustainability of our food supply chain and the stability of our rural economy are both at risk,” Borrello said.

From 2012 to 2022, New York lost nearly 14% of its farms and more than 9% of its farmland, declines far exceeding those in neighboring states. The rapid expansion of utility-scale solar is accelerating that trend.

“Farmland is not vacant land waiting to be developed. It produces food, sustains families, supports over 160,000 jobs statewide, and drives our rural economy,” Borrello emphasized. “Once prime farmland is gone, it’s gone forever.”

In his letter, Borrello urged Hochul to halt the Cider and Excelsior projects and to implement stronger policies that protect farmland, uphold local decision-making, and preserve the foundation of New York’s agricultural economy.

“Our farms and food supply cannot be sacrificed for industrial-scale solar development,” Senator Borrello concluded.