// Before & After
Swipe to see the transformation of West Street from farmland to solar farm.
// 2. THE MOMENT HE GOT CAUGHT
During the May 28, 2026 CBS6 debate, Anthony Constantino confronted Robert Smullen about the Communist Chinese ties to his solar farm and the taxpayer-funded incentives that helped make it possible. Smullen defended the project by claiming it was "Korean."
“[Smullen] has a large, taxpayer funded Chinese solar farm on his land... People saw it. They're disgusted. He's with the Democrats on the Green New Deal.”
“That's absolutely, categorically false and defamatory... The solar panels are actually LG, which is a Korean company, and it was done well before I got into the Assembly.”
Taxpayers Funded His Solar Farm. Smullen Denied It.
“That was done completely with private capital.”
— Assemblyman Robert Smullen defending his solar project, May 28, 2026
On His Campaign Site:
“This claim is completely false... Robert’s is not funded by taxpayers in any way.”
Smullen’s solar array is officially registered as the "J-Town 30" project, operated directly under the State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) “Solar 4 All” program.
FULTON COUNTY ASSESSOR
MUNICIPAL TAX STATEMENT RECORD
100% PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION
How the program is funded by New Yorker Taxpayers:
The Public Service Commission (PSC) authorized the Clean Energy Fund (CEF) to be administered by NYSERDA to promote renewable energy structures. The state authorized NYSERDA to collect funding for these projects "primarily through surcharges on customer utility bills." [Clean Energy Fund Audit Summary ]
Every single time upstate families pay their electricity bill, a portion of their payment directly funds the solar programs that sit on private agricultural fields like Assemblyman Smullen's property, while he pays absolute zero property taxes on his multi-million dollar solar installation until 2033. [Surcharge Tariff Records ]
“The solar panels are actually LG, which is a Korean company...”
— Assemblyman Robert Smullen defending his private solar array, May 28, 2026
LG's solar division was entirely dependent on Communist Chinese Government-controlled raw materials (ingots, wafers, and polysilicon). LG later closed its solar division.
The Communist China Connection
Communist China controls 95%+ of the raw wafers, ingots, and cells required to build any solar panel—meaning even LG was entirely dependent on Beijing's raw materials before being forced out of the market completely.
Official industry press releases show that Borrego Solar bypasses local manufacturing by utilizing dedicated supply frameworks to purchase massive amounts of hardware from Tier-1 Chinese state-subsidized firms like BYD and VSUN.
Robert Smullen claims to put America First, but his property is leased to a corporate developer whose entire business model relies on filling Upstate fields with state-subsidized equipment built by foreign adversaries.
// 3. Second Solar Farm Attempt
Official planning records show ongoing efforts to build a second solar farm in restricted local residential districts.
Smullen wants to build a second solar farm
“...variance request for a solar farm ... on property owned by Robert Smullen.”
— Town of Johnstown planning board official minutes, August 27, 2024
Official municipal records state that Kearsarge Solar submitted applications for an entirely new, separate solar farm expansion located right at the corner of Eastland Drive and West Street.
Project manager, Jutta Middel, confirmed this new project is positioned "directly across the street from the project that Kearsarge Solar did previously," expanding Smullen's solar farm.
Environmental Impact Note (Tree-Cutting): The Town Planning Board designated the project a Type I Action under SEQRA, noting it will physically disrupt and clear-cut at least 10 acres of pristine woodlands and green fields.
Because Smullen’s acreage lies inside a designated R-2 Residential Zone District (restricted to home building, not utility infrastructure), the project violates basic community zoning rules.
Kearsarge Solar petitioned the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) for a special Use Variance to force the development through. As of the latest filings, the final approval of this variance remains completely unclear.
// 4. Solar Farm lease calculator
See Why Smullen Likes Solar Farms.
Select Siting & Rental Variables
ESTIMATED COMPOUNDED LEASE EARNINGS
Chinese Yuan (CNY / Renminbi)
ANNUAL CASH FLOW CONVERSIONS:
// 5. More Lies
One day he champions solar on Facebook; the next day he issues press releases against it; and then he files an application to mow down trees and build another solar farm.
“It was great to cut the ribbon and help turn on the community solar project... renewable energy sources are important to our future power needs.”
Assemblyman Smullen personally speaking in front of utility-scale solar panels at a state-backed NYSERDA ribbon-cutting.
“Happy to attend Nexamp’s presentation... promoting business opportunities in construction and community solar projects for our residents.”
"While we can all agree that New Yorkers deserve reliable, affordable energy... upstate green space should not be at the mercy of New York City's uncontrollable energy needs."
— Assemblyman Robert Smullen, NY Senate Press Release (Sept 6, 2022) Verify Official Release
"...variance request for a solar farm ... on property owned by Robert Smullen."
— August 27, 2024, Town of Johnstown Planning Board Application Verify Official Minutes PDF
Despite warning the public about green energy mandates, Smullen's developers filed plans in late 2024 to bulldoze trees on a 10-acre residential zone parcel right across the street to grow his solar farm.
What will he build next?
If he is willing to pave over our farmland and cut down trees in residential neighborhoods for solar farms, what monstrosity will he build next?
// 6. Site Photo Records
Aerial photography documents the installation's heavy footprint and scale.
