After
@InvenergyLLC punctured the aquifer out at Horseshoe Solar February 2026 while drilling under the Genesee River, causing multiple homes to lose water, ORES (the Office of Renewable Energy Siting), suddenly, 7-months later, is requiring Invenergy to provide a "12-month monitoring plan."
On February 3, 2026, Invenergy reported they had punctured the aquifer in Rush/Caledonia, New York, causing groundwater to surface at roughly 50–100 gallons per minute. ORES then approved the first chemical-grouting remedy on February 24.
The leakage continued.
There was a second/separate seepage problem at HDD (Horizontal Directional Drilling)-004. Invenergy's March 28 filing said groundwater began channeling along the conduit about 2–3 days after boring was completed, intermittently flowing into the pit at about 5–10 gallons per minute. Invenergy proposed another grouting operation, which ORES ultimately approved as Minor Modification No. 5.
By May 21, 2026, Invenergy's project manager told ORES that the second grouting operation was finished and the contractor had demobilized... but groundwater seepage was still occurring.
While all of this was happening, ORES deferred to Invenergy as the "expert" on the scene. ORES does not monitor solar and wind installations onsite.
When the aquifer puncturing made its way to the local news, the Department of Public Service dispatched its "liaison" to Western New York to "tour the site" before returning to Albany. This was the same person who escorted me out of the Agency 3 building in Albany when I tried to make an appointment with ORES.
Nearly 7-months later, and ORES, for optics, is playing "tough guy" by demanding Invenergy provide a 12-month monitoring plan and submissions to ORES at the end of the 30-day mark of how to "fully resolve the issue."
That's funny timing, considering:
- The Flat Creek Solar permit was just relinquished
- The developer at Shepherd's Run Solar was caught lying in an adjudicatory hearing
- Niagara County is blocking Highway Work Permits for an ORES solar project
ORES doesn't care about our communities, drinking water, or farmland. They must know that without this kind of public monitoring available in the Horseshoe Solar docket, they could have another problem on their hands here, and soon.
Keep the pressure on.