P-J photo by Gregory Bacon A new solar project on South Stockton-Cassadaga Road, Stockton is well underway and should be completed by the end of the year.

Payments that are being made for a solar project in Stockton are being adjusted.

In 2022, Scinta Solar, LLC was approved to construct a 5 megawatt solar project at 7030 South Stockton-Cassadaga Road (County Road 71). It was to be placed on 26 acres of land.

A Payment In Lieu Of Taxes agreement was also approved.

During the recent Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency meeting, it was announced that a new ownership group purchased Scinta Solar LLC in December 2024.

While construction is well underway, the previously approved PILOT for sales tax exemption expired in March. The new company asked that the exemption be extended.

There were also a couple of modifications to the project. Instead of being a 5 megawatt project, it will now be a 4.5 megawatt project. In addition, instead of being on 26 acres of land, it will be on 21.8 acres of land.

According to Kristine Morabito with the county IDA, the new PILOT payments will total $504,477 over 25 years, which is about $56,000 less than the original PILOT agreement. The change is due to the project now being 10% smaller than originally proposed.

Ron Glandian, a representative of the new solar company’s owner, said the project got delayed when the sale went through.

He said a new wetland study had to be done and some of the land had to be removed, which is why the project is now smaller than originally proposed.

Construction began in February. Glandian said the construction is nearly completed. They hope to be connected to the electric grid by the end of the year.

The change to the PILOT agreement was unanimously approved.