The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) board of directors accepted an initial resolution for Oak Orchard Solar 3 LLC’s community solar farm project in the town of Batavia at the board’s Thursday, August 3 meeting.

The $9 million investment will include the installation of ground-mounted solar panels in order to generate up to 5 megawatts of power.

Since 2019, the GCEDC has reviewed over $1 billion of solar energy projects. These projects have proposed 860 megawatts of renewable energy and property tax-type revenues of $127.4 million to municipalities.

Under the proposed project agreement, Oak Orchard Solar 3 LLC’s project would generate $4,000/megawatts (AC) annually + a 2% annual escalator of revenues to Genesee County and the Elba Central School District. Including a host agreement with the Town of Batavia, this project is estimated to generate a $319,088 increase in property-tax type revenues to host municipalities over the life of the agreements.

A public hearing on the proposed project agreement will be scheduled in the town of Batavia.

The community is cordially invited to attend a virtual open house on Monday, Aug. 31 with one-hour sessions at noon and 6 p.m. for the Excelsior Energy Project, a 280-megawatt solar energy generating facility with 20 megawatts of energy storage proposed in the Town of Byron.

Information about the project will be presented online and via phone. During the meeting, the Excelsior team and its subject matter experts will provide a project update and answer questions. Both sessions will include an update on the project, cover the same information, and follow the same format.

Two easy options for joining the Aug. 31, Virtual Open House:

By phone (line opens at 11:40 a.m. and 5:40 p.m.)

Call 1-866-807-9684, ask to “join the Excelsior Energy Project call.”

Online (allows you to view presentation)

Open your web browser. Go to:  services.choruscall.com/links/excelsior.html

Fill out contact information.

Click on the “Join Webcast” link.

The community is cordially invited to attend an informational open house Tuesday, Sept. 10 for the Excelsior Energy Center, a 280-megawatt solar energy generating facility with 20 megawatts of energy storage proposed in the Town of Byron.

At the open house to be held at the South Byron fire hall, information about the project will be displayed on large poster boards.

Rather than a structured, formal presentation, the open house will provide many opportunities for any member of the public to speak directly with project representatives and subject-matter experts about questions they may have.

The public is invited to arrive anytime between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., or 5 and 7 p.m.

Please arrive anytime during the hours above. Information will be provided and questions will be answered throughout the duration of these sessions. Each session will follow the same open house-style format containing the same information.

South Byron Volunteer Fire Department
7389 Route 237
South Byron

As consumer interest in solar energy continues to grow, National Grid is now offering its Upstate New York electricity customers a convenient online tool to use in researching and purchasing solar energy systems for their homes and businesses. The portal is called New York Solar Marketplace and is part of National Grid’s commitment to the future of the energy landscape and to ensuring a quality customer experience for going solar.

Through the marketplace, National Grid offers customers a simple process to research and purchase photovoltaic equipment. Customers are able to comparison-shop solar opportunities and receive competitive quotes from prescreened installers. Eligibility extends to both existing structures and new construction.

“National Grid is committed to advancing clean energy options for our customers, and we expect the solar marketplace will help customers evaluate those options and make informed buying decisions,” said John Bruckner, president of National Grid in New York.

To deliver the New York Solar Marketplace program National Grid is collaborating with EnergySage, the nation’s leading online marketplace for solar.

“Our mission is to make solar more accessible and affordable for Americans through choice and transparency,” said Vikram Aggarwal, founder and CEO of EnergySage. “We’re thrilled to be working with an innovative company like National Grid to empower their customers as they consider going solar, while also helping local solar installers grow their business.”

Customers can access National Grid’s New York Solar Marketplace through https://www.energysage.com/ngny/ . The company provides a wealth of energy saving information, including solar, at: https://www.nationalgridus.com/Upstate-NY-Home/Ways-to-Save/.

The New York Solar Marketplace helps customers save time and money when evaluating solar. By accessing the Solar Marketplace, consumers can:

  Learn about solar energy and determine if your roof is suitable;

  Discover how to save thousands on your installation with incentives;

  Get multiple quotes from prescreened solar installers in your area in a standardized, easy-to-compare format.

Participating installers must: have at least three years of experience installing rooftop solar systems; be licensed and insured for solar installation; must be certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP); have a demonstrated reputation for excellent customer service and quality solar installations; and sell and install only high quality solar equipment.

The New York Solar Marketplace is one of many programs offered by National Grid to help customers manage their energy usage, and promote reduction clean alternatives in support of both company and New York State energy goals.

National Grid was the first electric utility in the nation to collaborate with a solar marketplace to offer customers simplicity, transparency and choice when shopping for solar when it launched its Rhode Island Solarwise program in 2016. In the first few weeks of the program customer interest has been high with more than 1,500 participants, including 10 customers who have chosen a solar installer to install nearly 100 kilowatts of solar capacity.

Derek Meister, of The Meister Consultant's Group Inc., and trainer for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, spoke in Stafford on Thursday night for the town's committee studying the impact of potential solar farms.

Meister provided details on the implementation of the Unified Solar Law. The law is a template for local jurisdictions who wish to approve regulations for large-scale industrial solar plants on farmland.

This was the third in a series of talks sponsored by the solar committee. The committee is gathering all the information it can on solar farms, including community, environmental and economic impacts.

The town is halfway through a six-month moratorium on new industrial solar installations in Stafford, giving the committee time to complete its work.

Swanson said she hopes to have a group of people to help her and brief the Stafford Town Board toward the end of July.

“We have until February,” Swanson said, “but we should be ending it in January. There is a huge amount of information to look at.”

Swanson attended a Genesee Finger Lakes Regional Council meeting in Pittsford in May, and went to three sessions about solar energy.

“There’s a huge amount of information about solar and people all over the country to talk to,” Swanson said. “I think it [helps] us to get as much information as possible.”

In May, the Stafford Town Board passed a nine-month moratorium on solar farms and solar-powered plants in the town. The moratorium prevents solar companies from submitting applications for a permit to construct a solar farm or power plant within the Town of Stafford.

“We would like to commend the town for entering a moratorium,” said Dan Compitello, the zoning and outreach manager for Cypress Creek Renewables. “It’s a very good, solid path to take."

Compitello attended the town board meeting, held on June 12, to offer his services, representing some of the landowners in Stafford. He said he provides workshops for towns that are in moratorium or in the process of updating codes.

He said he would be happy to assist the town board with through the process.

“The first thing to do would not be to have the business man tell us how to do it,” Swanson said.

With courses spanning the fields of accounting to veterinary technology, criminal justice to communications, sports management to supply chain management, healthcare to human services -- and many more, the spring 2017 semester at Genesee Community College offers something for everyone! Register now to ensure your seat! Classes begin Tuesday, Jan. 17.

One of GCC's newest courses is Introduction to Solar Manufacturing (CHE193) taught by Brian Fraser, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry. The new course provides overview of the solar manufacturing industry including the latest technology, production and the growing market for the newest high-tech industry that promises to bring hundreds of new jobs to Western New York. Students will understand where and how the new local companies, Solar City and 1366 Technologies, fit within the solar industry and landscape. Through this course, students can explore if this may be a new career opportunity for them, and if so, the best pathway to pursue it.

"Anyone interested in solar energy and science will find this course very helpful. There will be enough information to help students appreciate careers in nanotechnology and other sciences, and understand the emerging developments in the solar industry. It is also a great general education elective with a focus on the future," Fraser said. "The hybrid format of the course also provides some flexibility with in-class and online requirements."

There is no prerequisite for CHE193, which meets Wednesdays from 1:25 – 2:45 p.m. at the Batavia campus starting Jan. 17 and running through May 13. Additionally, Professor Fraser will use a variety of freely accessible resources that include up-to-date information, rather than requiring purchase of a textbook.

GCC offers more than 70 degree and certificate programs, including more than 15 degrees that can be completed 100-percent online. Most degree and certificate programs feature online or hybrid courses and at least 50 percent of each program can be completed online without attending class at a campus center location. In addition, every course in GCC's Computer Information and Networking Technology program offers at least one section that uses the 360-degree learning model enabling students to learn anytime, anywhere and on any device. The instructors in these courses deliver two-way, interactive instruction in the classroom and/or online through personal computers, laptops, tablets and other smart communication devices. All course material is recorded and stored in the cloud, allowing students to review and revisit a class lecture for clarification.

"Without a doubt, GCC remains at the cutting edge of new teaching and learning opportunities," said Rafael Alicea-Maldonado, Ph.D.,  (Dr. RAM), dean of Math, Science and Career Education. "We hope anyone who is even remotely considering college education will contact us soon. There are so many great and affordable options."

No matter what industry or field, regardless of age and educational background, and irrespective of geography due to GCC's many online courses and seven campus locations -- this spring semester is the time to enroll in a course at GCC. The spring semester starts Tuesday, Jan. 17. To review the class schedule which features hundreds of courses, go to: http://www.genesee.edu/courses/schedule/

The topic has come up before, first when Solar City offered a proposal that legislators decided too heavily favored Solar City's interests, and then when consultants from Wendel Energy were interviewed for a possible consulting contract.

Wendel isn't a solar contractor, and wouldn't build any solar installation, but it can do the initial study to help the county determine the best potential location, the cost benefits and potential expense pitfalls.

Representatives from Wendel -- Adam Tabelski, Sam Marotta and Keith Krug -- met again with the Public Service Committee on Monday to discuss a possible contract for a feasibility study.

County Highway Superintendent Tim Hens, himself an engineer, said he thought hiring a consultant like Wendel made a lot of sense.

"There are so many pieces," Hens said. "You have a lot of pieces that are really complex and outside of our staff's expertise."

Whether a solar installation could save the county money and help reduce energy costs is something Wendel would have to figure out, based on the size and location of the installation and the county's energy needs.

The committee concluded the discussion with, basically, "we'll think about it."

Areas of concern raised by members of the Legislature include the cost of interconnection with National Grid, whether technology installed now will be outdated in a few years, and whether a solar farm is the best option compared to rooftop installations.

Legislator Bob Bausch said he heard that Orleans County started down the path of a solar installation, but found National Grid's interconnection fees too expensive.

Krug said the interconnection fees weren't really the issue in Orleans County. The decision to drop the project had more to do with tight deadlines for grants to help fund the project.

Marotta said one issue they've seen come up in other jurisdictions is that contractors bid for a solar project, but to help keep the bid low, underestimate the interconnection fees, but then when National Grid comes back later with the actual cost of interconnection, the contractor informs the local government the cost of the installation has gone up.

This can turn some projects from profitable to unprofitable.

Wendel's practice is to try and accurately estimate National Grid's fees, and since Wendel isn't the contractor for the project, has nothing to gain by underestimating that cost.

A potential location for a county-owned solar farm is just north of the airport and Legislator Shelly Stein wondered whether that's really a better option than rooftop installation.

Marotta said he generally recommends a solar farm approach because it's cheaper to install and cheaper to maintain, especially when older roofs are involved.

"For simplicity sake, if you have the land available, we recommend land," Marotta said. "It's easier to maintain. It's a weed wacker instead of a roofer."

Stein also noted that Solar City's Elon Musk recently announced plans to develop roof tiles that double as solar panels and wondering if that would be an option.

That technology isn't yet in the market and Hens noted that, yes technology is going to change, but waiting to do someting would be akin to not buying office computers in the 1990s because technology was going to change.

There are a couple of companies who have approached local landowners, Oltramari said, and if towns in the area want solar farms within their borders, they need to address it with a zoning code change and then decide how to regulate the farms.

Towns that do nothing, that currently have no permitted use for solar farms, will be deciding by default not to allow solar farms in those jurisdictions, Oltramari said.

If a land use isn't expressly mentioned in the local zoning code than it is completely prohibited.

Only the Town of Batavia has created provisions for solar farms, and it's a pretty bare-bones code at this point, Oltramari said.

The Town of Batavia took the action after SunEdison approached a local landowner about building a solar farm. An attorney representing SunEdison attended a couple of town meetings, but there's been no apparent progress with SunEdison since then and currently SunEdison is going through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.

Since then, no other town has moved forward with solar farm zoning, but the Town of Oakfield is considering a solar farm on its land adjacent to its wastewater treatment plan and the Town of Alabama is considering a solar farm for the retired quarry in the town. 

"I think that’s a perfect use for that, too," Oltramari said.

The Town of Batavia is also looking into a solar farm on its former landfill.

The big issue for agricultural land, however, is that a solar farm would take the land out of crop production.

Agriculture average typically leases for about $60 a year and solar companies will pay $1,500 per acre per year for 20 years.

"This has alarmed farmers that rely on rented land for their operations," Oltramari said.

Companies looking to set up solar farms are typically looking for 20-acre parcels and they must be within two miles of a power substation.

Donn Branton, chairman of the Farmland Protection Board, thinks landowners should look carefully at any deal offered by a solar company.

"The frosting sounds pretty good, but the cake batter seems to get pretty messy," Branton said. 

There's a two-year planning process and the company decides what part of your farm it wants, he said, and then during construction they decide where the roads go.

"They pretty much have the run of your farm," he said. 

And taking the land out of production could cause it to be reclassified as commercial property rather than farmland, increasing the property tax rate. 

'It's something you want to investigate thoroughly with a legal service," Branton said. "$1,500 sounds great, but then you've got all the stipulations that go with it."

Oltramari recommended that towns -- and potentially landowners -- address issues such as preserving topsoil and herbicide use (in the event the land ever reverts to food production).

Zoning could also be used to limit the location and size of solar farms, buffer zones and visual screening.

Typically, in this area, solar companies are looking for 20-acre farms that produce two to four megawatts of energy.

One megawatt of solar energy could power 165 homes.

An energy generation facility (solar or wind) that produces more than 25 megawatts is exempt from local zoning laws, but such a farm in Western New York would need 125 to 200 acres of land, so Oltramari doesn't foresee such a farm coming to Genesee County.

The committee voted unanimously to reject a proposal that could have saved the county more than a quarter of its $500,000 annual electricity bill. 

The short-term cost savings looked good, but the long-term and potentially unknown consequences seemed daunting.

Legislator and Committee Chairman Bob Bausch worried about Solar City going bankrupt, and without some sort of bond to protect the county's financial liability, taxpayers could be left holding the bag on a nine-acre solar farm the county had no ability to maintain.

"We would have to clean up their mess," Bausch said.

County Attorney Chuck Zambito said Bausch was essentially right.

"It would be their responsibility, but if they go bankrupt, there would be no way to enforce it," Zambito said.

Legislator Maryanne Clattenburg was concerned that 20 years was too long to lock the county into technology that looks good today but may quickly become obsolete. She said she was especially concerned because the company seems so dependent on government grants, which could dry up in a few years.

"When I think of my phone 20 years ago, or I think of my computer 20 years ago -- I just think it's too long of a time to be tied into one technology," Clattenburg said.

County Highway Superintendent Tim Hens expressed concern that the state, which would help finance the project, might eventually reduce the amount of compensation the county would get for hosting the solar farm.

He also noted that the county may yet need to build a new jail and the proposed location of the farm -- nine acres off West Main Street Road, Batavia, next to County Building #2, might be a prime location for a new jail. Putting a solar farm on that land would potentially drive up the cost of a new jail if the county had to purchase nine acres elsewhere.

Solar City would get use of the nine acres to generate electricity to sell to National Grid tax free, legislators noted.

County Manager Jay Gsell said the county also looked at land at the County Airport, but found FAA regulations would prohibit any possible configuration the county could use because of glare, glide path and safety zone issues.

Hens said other companies have contacted the county about solar power and in rejecting the Solar City deal, which the county had to act on by mid-February, the county keeps its options open.