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GCEDC Board Advances 500+ MW of Solar Projects in Genesee County

Fri, Dec 2nd 2022 08:00 am

BATAVIA – The Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC) board of directors advanced final resolutions for solar projects that would generate $576.5 million of capital investment at its board meeting on Thursday, December 1, 2022.  The board also accepted an application for a $6.5 million community solar project in the town of Pavilion.

Including the five projects considered Thursday, the GCEDC has advanced more than 850 megawatts of solar energy generation from 21 projects with total investments of $999 million dollars. Led by the PILOT and host community agreements proposed by Hecate Energy Cider Solar LLC, these projects are estimated to generate $126.4 million in future revenues for Genesee County communities and schools.

Hecate Energy Cider Solar LLC will build a 500-megawatt utility scale solar that would create approximately 500 full-time construction jobs with the capacity to supply 920,000 hours of renewable electricity annually and provide power to up to 120,000 homes.

Agreements negotiated with Hecate Energy Cider Solar LLC project will generate approximately $73.5 million through PILOTs and host community agreements with the Town of Elba, the Town of Oakfield, the Elba Central School District, and the Oakfield-Alabama Central School District, including:

  • $13.18 million to Genesee County
  • $19.38 million to the Town of Elba
  • $12.92 million to the Town of Oakfield
  • $16.85 million to the Elba Central School District
  • $11.24 million to the Oakfield-Alabama School District

The GCEDC Board accepted final resolutions for three community solar projects totaling 10.5 megawatts of energy that includes approximately $2 million in payments for the various host communities.

  • A 5-megawatt community solar project on West Main Road in Le Roy by AES Rt 5 Storage LLC. The $11.01 million project would generate $597,180 in payments to Genesee County, the town of Le Roy, and the Le Roy Central Schools.
  • A 3-megawatt community solar project on Alexander Road in Batavia by RPNY Solar 6 LLC. The $5.97 million project would generate $447,748 in payments to Genesee County, the town of Batavia, and the Alexander Central Schools.
  • A 2.5-megawatt community solar project on Alexander Road in Batavia by RPNY Solar 7 LLC. The $3.55 million project would generate $373,124 in payments to Genesee County, the town of Batavia, and the Batavia City Schools.

Finally, the board accepted an initial resolution from NY CDG Genesee 4 LLC for a 4.275 MW community solar farm in the town of Pavilion on Shepard Road.  The $6.5 million project would generate approximately $500,000 in PILOT, host community, and real property tax payments to Genesee County, the town of Pavilion and the Pavilion Central Schools. A public hearing on the project agreement will be scheduled in the town of Pavilion.