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Cloudy forecast: Hanover balks at new solar proposal

OBSERVER Photos by Braden Carmen Dan Compitello, Project Developer for Delaware River Solar, LLC presented the Hanover Town Board with a proposal for a Solar Energy System located at 12171 Hanover Road.

HANOVER — What was supposed to be a short presentation turned into anything but at the this month’s meeting of the Town Board.

Dan Compitello, Project Developer for Delaware River Solar, LLC addressed the board for more than 45 minutes at its most recent meeting.

First, Compitello provided an update on the Angell Road Solar project. Compitello anticipates closing on a payment in lieu of taxes with the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency in December.

Once that PILOT closes, the project can then execute the Host Community Agreement with the town. “That will allow us to start construction in the spring,” Compitello said. He expects a four- to six-month timeframe once construction is underway.

Then, Compitello proposed two more projects to the board.

Deputy Supervisor Lou Pelletter also opposed the variance requests in the proposed 12171 Hanover Road Solar project.

The first of Compitello’s two propositions was a small project at the Water/Sewer Plant, located at 12782 Buffalo Road. In the plan, Compitello believes a small Solar Energy System could alleviate the town’s energy costs to power the plant, which costs roughly $60,000 a year to operate.

“My best estimate now, I couldn’t guess that it could offset the whole plant, but probably a significant portion of it,” said Compitello.

Compitello claimed many other communities around the state have built small Solar Energy Systems to offset costs in a similar fashion. Compitello plans to contact New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) to see how much capability the area has for a project at the plant.

After the first two portions of Compitello’s three-part presentation to the board went smoothly, it all took a turn with the proposal for a Solar Energy System located at 12171 Hanover Road.

In what was supposed to be a short presentation of a fourth notable Solar Energy System in the town of Hanover, it instead became a back-and-forth discussion between Compitello, the board, and members of the audience that lasted more than double the amount of time spent on the other two parts of the presentation.

The major issue the board had with the 2.2 Megawatt proposed project was the setback requirements in the town’s zoning laws. Hanover requires 200 feet of distance from a solar energy system to the property line.

In the latest proposal, sizable variances would be required to maximize the potential of the land in question. The setbacks desired with the project were 74 feet, 80 feet, and 92 feet closer to the property line than permitted by the town law in place.

“You’re looking for a 92-foot variance. We require 200 feet. That’s almost at half,” said Town Supervisor Todd Johnson. “We will look at variances when they are reasonable … but there is a reason laws are in place.”

“When you’re almost going in half at 92 feet, then we’re looking at another setback of 74, another setback of 80, I’m wondering why I’m sitting here tonight talking about this,” Johnson continued. “We put laws in place not to circumvent them. When we’re looking at this much of a variance, this is almost absurd.”

Despite the homes on the property lines in question being much further back from the property line, the idea of circumventing the laws in place made the board uneasy.

“We’re all for solar. But the planning board spent two years on this solar law to make it so everybody would be happy. Then you have the precedent that would be set if we violate that to an extreme,” said Deputy Supervisor Lou Pelletter. “I’m pro-solar, but I don’t want to set any precedent.”

Johnson also stated, “I’m in favor of renewable energy, 100 percent. But we have guidelines. … Setbacks, if we’re looking for 5 or 10 feet, I’m all in favor of that. But when we’re looking at cutting it in half, I have a personal problem with that. It’s a slap in the face to people who worked for two years coming up with our local laws.”

No action was taken on the proposal. The board is willing to work with Delaware River Solar, LLC in the future if the plans are revised to address their concerns.

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