IBM Glen at Risk: Solar Farm Construction Resumes

The tranquility hikers have come to expect at the IBM Glen near Johnson City is being shattered by loud noise emanating from a solar project under construction just a few feet from the nature preserve.

A stop-work order was issued last May to halt operations at the future solar site after drainage problems developed when stormwater poured from the area where thousands of trees once stood.

FLASHBACK: Solar panels were being stored near the IBM Glen on September 17, 2025. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

The developer of the project has been allowed to resume construction and solar panels now are being installed at the site.

The problems caused by water runoff from the solar farm project have been worsening at the IBM Glen, which is owned by the Waterman Conservation Education Center.

Workers were installing solar panels at the project site next to the IBM Glen on April 29, 2026. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

Christopher Audette, the center's executive director, said he plans to get in touch with the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Audette told WNBF News that the "soil disturbance has only gotten worse" in recent months. He said the water volume coming from the neighboring construction site hasn't changed.

Audette said whatever steps the solar farm developer may have taken to address the runoff problem are "not adequate."

The IBM Glen nature preserve is located off Robinson Hill Road near Johnson City. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

He said there's been "more scouring of the forest floor" at the Glen. He added more trees have died and fallen over because of the drainage trouble.

Audette expects that ultimately some restoration work will be needed to deal with the damage that's been caused by the stormwater issues coming from the solar farm site.

Homestead Village Development Group LLC of Vestal owns the property where the solar array is being built.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: A look at the solar farm construction site next to the IBM Glen on April 29, 2026.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @bobjoseph.bsky.social on Bluesky or @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

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