Croton's expansive solar canopies and massive battery power system shine brightly during a V.I.P. tour.

The huge installation is now slated to be operational by Christmas.

Photos by Michael Balter

It’s been at least four years in the planning and making, but Croton’s 4.22 Megawatt Solar Canopy and 3.5 Megawatt Battery Power System is getting close to completion. By “close,” we mean the project could be online and operational by Christmas, if all goes well. And also by “close,” we mean near enough to completion for village leaders to officiate at an informal unveiling of the massive installation, which now takes up a big chunk of the west side of the Croton-Harmon train station parking lot.

(The east side of the parking lot sits on sinking marshland not suitable for the massive solar canopies, especially as they are supported by tall steel pillars, called “micropiles,” dug into the bedrock to a depth of about 100 feet below the ground surface.)