BY PAUL MITCHELL North Country This Week CANTON - Members of the town board were updated Tuesday night on the construction of a $300 million, 240 megawatt solar energy center just west of the village …
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BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week
CANTON - Members of the town board were updated Tuesday night on the construction of a $300 million, 240 megawatt solar energy center just west of the village on the Rich Road.
Jack Honor, development manager EDF Renewables, delivered a presentation on New York state's first solar farm of this size for EDF.
Honor noted the project has been on hold awaiting the completion of phase two of the transmission line project.that involves upgrading substations at both ends of the transmission lines.
"The project is not possible without it," he said "If we connected today there would be a substantial change."
To date, Honor said 1,500 acres have been acquired through leases with nine landowners on both the north and south sides of Rt. 11. A four-to-five-acre tract will be the site of EDF's substation. He noted that 40-year leases are in place with a 35 years of operation projected for the solar enwergy center.
Honor also presented a project timeline with actual construction anticipated in early 2024 with completion by the end of 2025..Permit submission is expected to take place in the end of 2022..
He said they are currently in the process of obtaining easements for electrical connector lines to connect to solar lease properties..All connector lines will be underground at a minimum of 42 inches or 48 inches through active agricultural lands.
Construction of the facility could mean up to 200 jobs, many of the electrician jobs, during the 14-to-18 month build.
Honor said a community benefit fund of $30,000 per year will be distributed to local civic groups, non profits,general projects or other community programs, Local residents along with the local project team will determine how the fund are allocated.
The project will also provide an electricity benefit of potentially $37 per household, he said..
When asked where exactly the array of solar panels will be arranged and located, Honor said it's too early to answer that question.
"A lot of people want to see what the Rt. 11 corridor will look like. At some point at a meeting let the people see what this will physically look like," said Councilman James T. Smith.
EDF will hold a community open house on July 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Best Western University Inn, Canton.