A new solar project in the town of Sheridan has been approved for tax incentives.

During the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency meeting, board members approved a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes agreement for a 3 megawatt solar project to be built at 2979 Middle Road. It will be constructed on 17 acres of land of a 30-acre parcel.

The project, which is being proposed by RIC Energy, is expected to cost $6 million to construct.

The project has been in the works for more than a year. According to Kristine Morabito with the county IDA, former Sheridan Town Supervisor Tom Wik had expressed support for the project.

Wick left office at the end of December. Newly elected town supervisor Stephen Roach attended a public hearing for the project in January but did not comment on the proposed development.

Weston Hill with RIC Energy said the Sheridan Town Board approved the decommission plan as well as the Host Community Agreement, which lists the payments the developer will make.

The IDA vote on the PILOT was the final approval needed for the project.

In November, RIC Energy officials noted they have solar projects in 27 counties in the state, including Chautauqua, Erie and Cattaraugus counties.

In Chautauqua County they already have 47.9 megawatts worth of projects. In Erie County they have 30.3 megawatts worth of projects. In Cattaraugus County, they have a 2.8 megawatt project.

The 47.9 megawatts worth of projects in Chautauqua County is the second highest in the state, behind Onondaga, which has 50.9 megawatts worth of projects.

According to the county IDA’s 2025 annual report, last year the IDA Board of Directors approved five solar projects with a combined investment of $32.8 million and producing a total of 16.4 megawatts of clean energy.