Headline corrected at 7:43 a.m. July 20 to clarify EDF Renewables, not the Town of Canton, is hosting the open house. North Country Now regrets the error.

BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

CANTON -- Anyone with an interest, concern or question about the proposed $300 million solar energy center in the Town of Canton should plan on attending a community open house on Thursday, July 22, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Best Western University Inn.

EDF Renewables, an international renewable energy company, wants to construct a huge 240-megawatt solar energy center along the Rich Road. On July 13, Jack Honor, development manager EDF Renewables, made a presentation to the Canton Town Board.

“We will have about 10 people from our team in attendance” at the July 22 event, said Honor. “Folks can come at any time and stay as long as they please.”

Numerous panel boards depicting the project will be on display and light fare will be provided.

Honor said he and his team will address topics such as what the project is, where it will be located, how large-scale solar energy projects work, and benefits to the community in the form of financial contributions, taxes, local vendors and job creation.

The public will also be informed about studies, environmental surveys, the engineering that goes into the project, and the state permitting process for solar projects.

Honor said EDF’s team of engineers, environmental professionals and attorneys will be willing to answer questions and listen to feedback.

Permit submission is expected to take place at the end of 2022. Actual construction is anticipated in early 2024 with completion by the end of 2025.

To date, 1,500 acres have been acquired through leases with landowners on both the north and south sides of Route 11.

Construction of the facility could take 14 to 18 month and mean up to 200 jobs, many of them electrician jobs.