Presentation from February 18th and 19th Meetings in Boonville and Forestport

1. Follow Alder Creek Solar at www.aldercreeksolar.com
or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AlderCreekSolar/

2. 17 GWproject portfolio
over 200professionals
1,300,000
acres under lease
founded in
2009
2,867MW
completed
By the Numbers
Our Core ValuesProject Portfolio
About Apex Clean Energy
Safety
Professionalism
Integrity
Sustainability
Entrepreneurship

3. The Best Projects in the Business
Apex Clean Energy has secured financing for over 5 GW of wind and solar projects across the United States, many of which are now
operating or under construction. Visit apexcleanenergy.com/projects to learn more about these and our other completed facilities.
Featured Project
Phantom Solar
The Defense Logistics Agency partnered with Apex in 2016,
resulting in a 28-year renewable energy supply agreement
serving Fort Hood, the largest active-duty armored post in the
United States.
Cotton Plains (50 MW, Texas)
Cameron (165 MW, Texas) Kay (299 MW, Oklahoma)
Aviator (525 MW, Texas)
As of April 2017, Apex’s facilities are
providing more than 50% of the
electricity at Fort Hood.
“The project at Fort Hood, the
Army’s first hybrid and largest
single renewable energy project to
date, is an excellent example of the
extraordinary results we can
achieve through collaboration.”
—Katherine Hammack, Assistant
Secretary of the Army for
Installations, Energy, and
Environment
Project Details
Capacity 15.4 MWAC / 19.6 MWDC
Technology
62,725 Canadian Solar
PV modules
ISO / RTO ERCOT
Owner
Northleaf Capital and
Apex Clean Energy
Construction
Manager
Apex Clean Energy
Asset
Manager
Apex Clean Energy
Industry Awards
Hoopeston (98 MW, Illinois)
Grant (152 MW, Oklahoma)

4. Alder Creek Solar Project Team
• Carmen O’Keefe –
Project Developer, Apex Clean Energy
• Brian O’Shea –
Public Engagement Manager, Apex Clean Energy
• Jessica Walsh –
Development Associate, Apex Clean Energy
• Brian Schwabenbauer –
Environmental Operations Manager, TRC
• Hayley Effler –
Environmental Permitting Project Manager, TRC
• Chris Moon –
Senior Electrical Engineer, Apex Clean Energy

5. Project Overview

6. Alder Creek Solar – Project Overview
Location:
Towns of Boonville and Forestport,
Oneida County, New York
Project Capacity:
150-200 MW (enough to power
approximately 21,000 homes)
Project Footprint:
Up to 1,000 acres
Targeted Operations Date:
Winter 2023

7. Project Area

8. Solar energy is an abundant, inexpensive, natural resource that
is not dependent on imported fuel from other states or countries.
Solar energy’s average
annual growth rate over
the past decade
Solar is already powering the United States,
but the potential is huge.
38.4
47.2
4.8
6.2
7.8
14.6
10.8
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018–2020 2021–2025
Annual U.S. Solar Installations (GW)
projected
59%
Why Solar?

9. Why New York?
New York’s Solar AdvantageNew York Is 9th in Nation in Solar
The Empire State has driven investment in solar
• More than 325,000 homes in New York are powered by
solar energy
• The state has close to 2 GW of installed solar and
receives 1.67% of its electricity from solar power
• There are 989 solar companies in New York (117
manufacturers, 345 installers/developers, and 527 others)
• The total solar investment in New York to date is over
$5.1 billion.
• Prices have fallen 32% over the past five years
• The projected capacity in New York over the next five
years is 3,622 MW, which would rank the state as 7th in
the nation for solar energy.
“In 2014, we committed $1 billion to the local solar
industry—now employing the fourth largest statewide
solar workforce in the country—with the expectation
that REV (Reforming the Energy Vision) will drive a
subsidy-free solar market in New York within 10 years.”
—Richard L. Kauffman, Chairman of Energy and
Finance for New York, 2015 New York State Energy Plan

10. Solar Power Works
In New York Nationally
• With significant utility-scale development on the horizon,
New York's solar capacity is expected to grow by more than
185% over the next five years
• More than 9,700 people are employed in solar energy in
New York, making the state 4th in the nation for solar jobs
• 60 GW of solar capacity has been installed nationwide
• There are over 240,000 Americans working in solar,
more people than are employed in the entire fossil fuel
sector for electricity generation
• Nearly 2 million solar energy systems are operating in
the United States
SOLAR JOBS BY SECTOR
INSTALLATION
7,182
MANUFACTURING
508
WHOLESALE TRADE
AND DISTRIBUTION
1,049
OPERATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE
477
OTHER
514
12,582
62,987
66,448
86,202
111,166
112,685
211,469
242,343
U.S. ENERGY JOBS WITHIN
THE ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY (2019)
Solar
All Fossil Fuels
Natural Gas
Wind
Coal
Hydro
Nuclear
Oil
Solar provides
more jobs than
all fossil fuels
together

11. How Solar Power Works

12. How Solar Panels Work
Solar Energy
Electromagnetic energy transmitted from the sun (solar radiation). The
amount that reaches the earth is equal to one billionth of total solar
energy generated, or the equivalent of about 420 trillion kilowatt-hours.
Solar Resource
The amount of solar insolation a site receives, usually measured in
kWh/m2/day, which is equivalent to the number of peak sun hours.
Solar Power
Solar power is the conversion of solar energy into electricity
through a phenomenon called the photovoltaic effect.
Solar panels convert
sunlight into electricity

13. Where Does the Power Go?
To the Grid!
Electricity generated by Alder Creek Solar will go onto the state’s electrical grid by
connecting to the existing National Grid Chases Lake-Porter 230 kilovolt (kV)
power line located in Boonville.
From the grid, the power generated by
Alder Creek Solar could be used locally or
sent where it is needed depending on line
capacity, local generation, and demand.
So who uses the power?

14. DC Solar Array

15. DC Collection System

16. Inverter/Power Conversion Station

17. Project Collector Substation

18. The Albedo Effect
Increased reflectivity, or albedo, from the snow-covered ground can
also increase the efficiency of solar panels. There are even bifacial
modules that can allow a panel to generate electricity from both
sides to take advantage of this reflected solar radiation.
Solar Energy in Wintertime Do solar panels work in the wintertime?
Yes, they do! While reduced daylight hours affect how often
panels are generating electricity, you might be surprised to
learn that sunny, cold conditions actually increase efficiency for
solar panels compared to extremely hot climates, which can
reduce efficiency.
How does snow affect solar panels?
Solar panels can continue generating electricity even through a light coating
of snow because of a phenomenon called forward-scattering, where the
snow reflects photons from sunlight to generate energy.
Heavier snowfalls can still block generation, but because panels are often
significantly warmer than the ambient temperature and tilted at an angle,
snow will usually slide right off. As an added benefit, the snow often takes
any accumulated dust and dirt with it, cleaning the panel in the same way
that snow cleans your car’s windshield when it melts.
snowy ground
diffuse light
albedo
bifacial solar panel

19. What Happens When It’s Cloudy?
Fortunately for us, solar radiation still gets through to
warm up the Earth’s surface, even when it is cloudy.
Have you ever noticed how people can still end up
with a sunburn when skiing on a cloudy day? That’s
because up to 80% of the sun’s UV rays still pass
through the clouds.
Though solar panels primarily use visible and infrared
light, they can still generate electricity in cloudy
weather because there is visible and infrared light that
can penetrate the clouds and be captured by panels.
Studies have shown that solar panels can produce
as much as 25% of their usual output on a cloudy day
and even up to 10% of usual output with heavy clouds.
ozone layer
UVC
UVB
UVA
cloud cover

20. Shading
• The output current of the PV
module is a function of solar
irradiance, so a reduction in solar
irradiance as a result of partial or
complete shading will affect the
performance of the entire module
• Every cell in the string has to
operate at the current set by the
shaded cell
• We design array to reduce or
eliminate consistent shading
events

21. Tracking Systems
• Fixed Tilt
• Single-Axis Tracker
• Two-Axis Tracker

22. Safety Considerations
• Grounding Studies
o Step and touch potential
• TOV Studies
• Arch Flash Studies
• Ampacity Studies
• NFPA 70/NEC
NEC Article 705.10 “A permanent plaque or directory
denoting the location of all electric power source
disconnecting means on or in the premises shall be
installed at each service equipment location and at
the location(s) of the system disconnect(s) for all
electric power production sources capable of being
interconnected. The marking shall comply with
110.21(B).”

23. Emergency Response Preparedness
• Formal training for all project personnel
including first-aid training
• Development of emergency response plans
with local authorities
• Site specific training with local emergency
responders before and during operations,
including PV-specific emergency response
• Ongoing drills with local EMS and fire
professionals during operations covering
medical, fire, and other emergencies
• Article 10 requires specific plans in regards to
Public Safety and Emergency Response
(Exhibits 15, 18, and associated appendices)

24. Recycling Solar Panels
• With no moving parts, solar panels are durable and
are expected to function effectively for up to 40 years.
• At the end of a solar facility’s useful life (30 years on
average), panels can be removed and recycled.
• Alder Creek Solar will be required to fully fund a
decommissioning plan so local communities will not
bear any cost for removal of project assets (Article 10
application, Exhibit 29).
Up to 90% of the materials used in panels, much of
which is glass, are recyclable and can be
remanufactured into new panels.
76%
glass
10%
plastic
8%
aluminum
5%
silicon
1%
metals
The Recycling Process
Disassembly
of aluminum
and glass parts
95%
glass reused
thermal
processing
at 500°C
100%
metal reused
plastic cover
evaporates
reused as
heat source
physical
separation
of cell modules
etching
away of
silicon wafers
melting
broken
wafers
80%
modules
reused
85%
silicon
reused
The International Renewable Energy Agency projects that the
value of recovered materials could exceed $15 billion by 2050
and could be used to remanufacture two billion solar panels.

25. Article 10 Permitting Process

26. What is Article 10?
• Article 10 of the New York State Public Service Law defines a clear process for public
engagement in permitting large electric generating facilities.
• Applies to electric generating facilities with 25 MW generating capacity or more, including
renewable energy projects.
• Includes environmental justice and environmental and health requirements.
• Ensures broad public involvement opportunities throughout the process.
• Makes funds available to local parties and municipalities through an Intervenor Fund so
they can make an effective contribution to the proceedings.
• Requires the creation of a Public Involvement Program Plan, summarizing project
efforts to educate, inform, and involve the public in the permitting process.

27. Article 10 Process

28. Where are we now?
• Revised Public Involvement Program Plan submitted –
11/22/19
• This document can be found on our website and outlines our plans to
engage with area residents and stakeholders throughout the
development process. Hard copies are available at the Boonville Town
Hall, Forestport Town Hall, Erwin Library and Institute, and the
Woodgate Free Library.
• Preliminary Scoping Statement (PSS) – Spring 2020
• The PSS is a written document informing the Siting Board, other
public agencies, and the community about the project, including a
description of the proposed facility, potential environmental and health
impacts, proposed studies to evaluate those impacts, proposed
mitigation measures and reasonable alternatives to the project.
• After the PSS is submitted, intervenor funding becomes available for
local communities and stakeholders.

29. What is Intervenor Funding?
• Article 10 applicants are required to provide funds to be used
to defray certain expenses related to application review and
development of stipulations incurred by municipal and local
parties as they participate in the Article 10 process.
• These funds are distributed twice - once after the Preliminary
Scoping Statement (PSS) is submitted and once after the
application is submitted.
• The process of applying for the first round of intervenor
funding for Alder Creek Solar will begin after the PSS is filed.
• Amount of funds: The first round of intervenor funding is
equal to $350 per megawatt (MW) up to a cap of $200,000

30. What Goes Into an Article 10 Application?
List of Article 10 Exhibits
Exhibit 1: General Requirements Exhibit 11: Preliminary Design Drawings
Exhibit 2: Overview and Public Involvement Exhibit 12: Construction
Exhibit 3: Location of Facilities Exhibit 13: Real Property
Exhibit 4: Land Use Exhibit 14: Cost of Facilities
Exhibit 5: Electric System Effects Exhibit 15: Public Health and Safety
Exhibit 6: Wind Power Facilities (Not Applicable) Exhibit 16: Pollution Control Facilities (Not Applicable)
Exhibit 7: Natural Gas Power Facilities (Not Applicable) Exhibit 17: Air Emissions (Not Applicable)
Exhibit 8: Electric System Production Exhibit 18: Safety and Security
Exhibit 9: Alternatives Exhibit 19: Noise and Vibration
Exhibit 10: Consistency with Energy Planning Objectives Exhibit 20: Cultural Resources

31. What Goes Into an Article 10 Application? (Cont.)
List of Article 10 Exhibits (continued)
Exhibit 21: Geology, Seismology, Soils Exhibit 31: Local Laws and Ordinances
Exhibit 22: Terrestrial Ecology and Wetlands
(Includes field studies and analyses such as wetland and stream
delineations, vernal pool surveys, and winter raptor surveys)
Exhibit 32: State Laws and Regulations
Exhibit 23: Water Resources and Aquatic Ecology Exhibit 33: Other Applications and Filings
Exhibit 24: Visual Impacts
(Includes the Visual Impact Assessment and Photo Simulations)
Exhibit 34: Electric Interconnection
Exhibit 25: Impacts on Transportation Exhibit 35: Electric and Magnetic Fields
Exhibit 26: Effect on Communications Exhibit 36: Gas Interconnection (Not Applicable)
Exhibit 27: Socioeconomic Effects
(Includes an analysis of economic effects utilizing the National
Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Job and Economic Development
(JEDI) solar voltaic model)
Exhibit 37: Back-Up Fuel (Not Applicable)
Exhibit 28: Environmental Justice Exhibit 38: Water Interconnection (Not Applicable)
Exhibit 29: Site Restoration and Decommissioning Exhibit 39: Wastewater Interconnection (Not Applicable)
Exhibit 30: Nuclear Facilities (Not Applicable) Exhibit 40: Telecommunications Interconnection
Exhibit 41: Applications to Modify or Build Adjacent
(Not Applicable)

32. Studies Required for Article 10
• Wetlands, Waters and Streams (Exhibit 22):
• Wetland and Stream Delineation
• Vernal Pool Surveys
• Threatened and Endangered Species (Exhibit 22):
• Birds
• Winter Raptor Surveys
• Wildlife and Habitat (Exhibit 22)
• Invasive Species (Exhibit 22)
• Cultural Resources (Exhibit 20):
• Archaeological Resources
• Phase 1A/1B Study
• Historic Architecture
• Local Laws (Exhibit 31)
• Environmental Justice (Exhibit 28)

33. Studies Required for Article 10 (continued)
• Noise (Exhibit 19):
• Noise Impact Assessment
• Visual Effects (Exhibit 24):
• Visual Impact Assessment
• Viewshed Analysis
• Photo-simulations
• Shadow Flicker Analysis
• Glare Analysis
• Land Use Evaluation (Exhibit 4)
• Socioeconomic Effects (Exhibit 27)
• Geology, Seismology, and Soils (Exhibit 21)
• Safety and Security (Exhibit 18)
• Transportation (Exhibit 25)
• Site Decommissioning/Restoration (Exhibit 29)
• Communication Effects (Exhibit 26)
• Oils and Gas Infrastructure

34. Public & Community Engagement

35. Public & Community Engagement
• Public Meetings, Community Forums,
and Open Houses
• Town, County, and School District
Board Meetings
• Community Events
• Mailings
• In-person meetings and phone
conversations
• Online through our website
(www.aldercreeksolar.com) and Facebook
(@AlderCreekSolar)
As a community-focused company, we not only want to hear from you, but we
will be out in the community making ourselves available to answer questions
and gather feedback.
Let us know where else we can engage
with you and your neighbors!

36. Alder Creek Solar - Local Benefits
Local Economic Benefits
Some of the key estimates for the Alder Creek Solar project are below.
Local Revenue through Host Community Agreements and PILOT Agreements
Estimated $400,000 annually with inflation to the local taxing jurisdictions
Actual amounts and term dependent upon negotiations with Boonville and Forestport on Town Host Community
Agreements and Oneida County, Adirondack Central School District, and the two towns on PILOT Agreement.
Jobs
During construction:
• Between 125 and 200 construction jobs created directly by the project
During project operations (25+ years):
• 2 direct, long-term, local jobs employed for operations and maintenance of project
• Additional local subcontractors for site maintenance, including vegetative management, road repair, plowing,
substation/transformer/inverter maintenance, and module cleaning when needed.

37. Project Schedule (subject to change)
Outreach Dates
Preliminary Scoping Statement Submitted Spring 2020
Project Studies (Environmental & Wildlife, Ambient Noise, Viewshed Analysis,
Wetlands, Cultural & Historic Resources, Economic Impacts, Communications,
Decommissioning, and other applicable studies)
Present – Fall 2020
Public & Community Engagement (Public Meetings, Community Conversations,
Town Official Engagement, Ordinance Development, Host Community Agreement
and PILOT Agreement Negotiations)
Ongoing
Stipulations Period Spring 2020 – Fall 2020
Permit Application Late 2020
Initial Permit Review, Permit Deemed Complete Early 2021
Permit Hearings & Siting Board Review 2021
Siting Board Determination (Approval or Rejection of Application) Early 2022
Construction Commences Spring/Summer 2022
Construction Complete Fall 2023
Project Begins Operations Winter 2023

38. Follow Alder Creek Solar at www.aldercreeksolar.com
or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AlderCreekSolar/