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Local Solar Farm Marks 10 Years as New York’s First Community Solar Project

GENEVA, N.Y. — The Wallace Farms 1.5-megawatt solar array is celebrating its 10th year of operation, marking a decade since it became the first community solar farm in New York State.

Founded in 2015—before the state even enacted its community-solar law—the project was built through a collaboration between Wallace Farms LLC and 21 Finger Lakes businesses. Together, they created a model that kept ownership local and allowed businesses to directly benefit from clean, low-cost power.

Spread across 16 acres in the Town of Geneva, the site includes 5,736 solar panels. Each participating business operates its own metered portion of the array, consisting of either 108 or 216 panels. All electricity produced offsets power for the local partners, keeping both the energy and the economic impact within the Finger Lakes.

Wallace Farms LLC, a woman-owned and operated business based in Geneva, continues to manage the project.

Founder and partner Tracey Wallace said the project remains rooted in the values that launched it.

“It’s important that buying local includes where you get your energy,” Wallace said. “We farm the energy from the sun right here in Geneva and our energy stays local. Since we charge 10% less than what the utility charges, it helps a little with their operating costs too.”

Participating businesses include:
Ashley Furniture • Atwater Estates • Billsboro Winery • City of Geneva • Cornell AgTech • FLX Table • FLX Weinery • Fulkerson Winery • Geneva Housing Authority • Geneva Lakefront Daycare • Geneva Family YMCA • Horning’s Greenhouse • Java Gourmet • Keuka Spring • Knapp Winery • Lake Drum Brewery • Linden Social Club • Lyons National Bank • Red Jacket Orchards • Town of Geneva • Traditional Chevrolet Buick • Uncle Joe’s • Vance Metal Fabricators.

Dec 8, 2025 at 3:40 PM

Geneva, NY