SHERIDAN — Solar energy projects have been proposed quite often at municipalities across Chautauqua County in recent years. Not many of them have been proposed without asking for any special treatment. The latest proposal in Sheridan, however, got all its ducks in a row before even presenting to the Town Board.
Glenn MacKay, Development Manager at RIC Energy, presented plans for a 3-megawatt solar energy system in the town of Sheridan at its latest Town Board meeting. The project is in compliance with the Town’s solar energy laws and abides by the necessary setback guidelines the Town set forth in every direction of the land in question.
“There is a solar law in place, and while it might surprise you, that’s very helpful,” MacKay said.
The project would be located at 2979 Middle Road. The only detail that differed from the town’s regulations was the requirement that a solar project be located on only one parcel of land for tax purposes. In this case, the project would be set on two taxable parcels – both owned by the same landowner. The total property area is 34 acres, but the fenced in project itself covers 15.5 acres, which complies with the requirement that it utilizes less than 50% of the total property.
The project is designed in a “not ideal” path in order to avoid any impact to a pair of streams on the property. RIC Energy is working with the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for exact setback requirements from the streams and wetlands. Feedback is anticipated within the next month, as well as from the Army Corps of Engineers. RIC Energy has already received the green light from the Federal Aviation Administration and the New York State Historic Preservation Office.
The project would include visual screening in the form of trees planted to obstruct the view from the road. Utility poles, however, cannot be screened from the road as a requirement of National Grid. The electrical hook-ups need to be easily accessible during winter months, rather than buried under snow or otherwise inaccessible.
“We do our best to hide it. It does take a few years for plantings to mature, but I am already aware that existing farms have not done well with their landscaping. We will look for ways to improve that,” MacKay said. He offered a guarantee of suitable appearance as an option for the Town Board to consider as a contingency upon approval of the project.
“At the end of the day, this is a tenant (of the landowner) and a guest of the town, so we want it to be as well received as possible,” MacKay said.
MacKay asked the Town Board to refer to the County Planning Board for a referral, the initiation of the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process, and the scheduling of a public hearing on the project. The neighboring property owners have not yet voiced any opposition to the proposal. MacKay hopes to hear any objections in time to make necessary adjustments to the project.
Following MacKay’s presentation, multiple members of the Town Board shared that they were impressed by how well the project followed the town’s guidelines.
“I don’t see any problems with it,” Town Board member Colleen Yerico said of the proposed project. “It’s the first one that did everything. … It’s surprising that you’re being so accurate about it. That’s good.”
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