PORTLAND — Kevin Powell has visions of renewable energy on his property that include berms and shrubbery with willow and evergreen trees. He is even open to the idea of having grazing sheep roam with a honeybee operation within the land that will include solar panels.

Earlier this month, the Town Board approved a resolution that would permit for this type of project on Powell’s land along Route 20 near Church Street. Before approving the new law, which would allow for solar panels in a new set of agricultural districts in the town, the board heard from representatives from Solar Liberty who are eyeing placement of panels on Powell’s property and another owned by Robert Patterson.

“We have first right to install the systems,” said Nathan Rizzo, one of the Buffalo-based company founders. “Granted the costs come back favorable from the utility company to install our projects.”

For more than an hour, the board patiently listened to Rizzo and others from Solar Liberty as well as residents at the meeting who had questions and concerns. Powell, who also has been in favor of wind turbines in the town, was a part of the presentation.

At one point of the discussion, Powell gave a dark outlook on a vital aspect of the town’s economy: agriculture. “Unfortunately we’re in a dying industry,” he said. “Agriculture in general is a dying industry and specifically the juice industry.”

Citing a report from Dave Momberger, former general manager of the Growers’ Co-op, Powell said the demand for grape juice has declined since it peaked in the late 1990s at 400,000 tons. It has been going down in the last two decades that has driven a number of growers out of business.

“The market has gone away,” Powell said.

Another threat facing the region in the coming years is the spotted lanternfly. The invasive species found in eight counties of New York state is expected to create havoc in this region in the future. “It destroys grape vineyards,” he said.

With a community solar project, residents and the town could benefit from the building of these panels. Rizzo told the board a discount would be applied to electric bills that would range in the area of a bit more than 10 percent.

Powell’s urgency for the project has to do with the capability of a limited number of what he considered “feeder lines” that would push the power to other locations.

Portland is made up of 6,000 acres of agricultural land. About 2,600 acres is grape vineyards. Both Powell and Rizzo said the eight-foot solar panels, if approved by the town, would use 40 acres of that agricultural property. A solar panel’s life span is up to 35 years.

“We have to start supplementing our energy usage from fossil fuels to a more sustainable production means,” Rizzo said.

Rizzo said the company is offering a $41,000 payment in lieu of taxes payment to move ahead with its project. Those funds also include payments to the school and county.

With the board’s approval of the law, came with one no vote by town Supervisor Dan Schrantz. Even with the change, interested parties — including Powell — who wish to place solar panels in the agricultural area will still need to apply for a zoning change that would go through the Planning Board and Town Board for a special-use permit.