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Proposed solar energy center presented to Concord Board



CONCORD – A new solar project could soon be coming to the Towns of Concord and Sardinia. Ryan Storke of Storke, LCC, at the July 11 Town of Concord board meeting, presented the proposed plans for the Genesee Road Solar Energy Center project.

The Genesee Road Solar Energy Center would be a 350 megawatt project by EDF Renewables in partnership with Storke, LLC. The solar panel project would be located in the towns of Concord and Sardinia, with a final project size of approximately 2,600 acres. With a transmission line going through the area, it was an ideal area to do the Genesee Road Solar Energy Center. 

“It’s how empty [the transition line] is from power producers. There is nobody on it,” Storke said. “That is why we initially came to this project and took it forward once EDF gave us the green light.”

The project currently has approximately 3,250 acres of land under contract, with host landowners entering into lease agreements for use of the land. To connect the properties in the project, easements will be purchased from property owners who are in between and since eminent domain cannot be used, another way will be figured out if landowners don’t agree. 

The life of the solar panels is 40 years and once the end of the solar facility’s useful life or expiration of the lease comes about, the infrastructure will be decommissioned and the land will be returned to the pre-existing condition. The project will create 300 jobs during construction and local material will be looked at for the project, Storke said. 

“Anything we can source locally that’s at an advantage, we would use for the project,” Storke said. 

EDF Renewables is looking to bid the project into the 2019 New York State Energy Research and Development Agency Large Scale Renewables RFP, which is scheduled to be awarded in December. The project is currently in the pre-application phase, Storke said. If everything in the application, hearings and decision phases goes correctly, the Genesee Road Solar Energy Center project is proposed to be completed and operational in 2023/2024. 

An open house where members of the public can learn about the project is planned for Wednesday Aug. 7 from 5-8 p.m. at the East Concord Fire Hall. Members from EDF Renewables and Stroke, LLC will be in attendance to answer questions and detailed maps, a project overview and informational materials will be available. 

In other board news: 

– The board approved the town requiring a roof permit on structures over 144 square feet and the town require a $50 permit free. 

The Town Board will next meet Thursday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall.

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