Bainbridge solar project on hold while CCIDA considers tax incentives
Residents are divided on a solar project planned for the Town of Bainbridge. (File photo)
BAINBRIDGE – Bainbridge residents are torn over a proposed 25-megawatt solar project to be constructed near the town and village border.
The project, potentially to receive financial assistance from the Chenango County Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), appears at a standstill while CCIDA board members contemplate community feedback offered by locals during a public hearing held at Bainbridge Town Hall earlier this month. The CCIDA has held off on a vote to approve tax breaks for the project which may upend developers’ decision to move forward with their proposal.
Payne Solar Farm, a subsidiary of CSG Developers and the LLC behind the Bainbridge initiative, is seeking tax exemptions from the CCIDA for materials used in construction, along with property tax abatements that would extend over the next 20 years – all of which are crucial to drive the project forward, according to company spokesmen. In return, Payne Solar says the county would benefit from temporary and permanent jobs created, local services used, as well as a share of clean energy produced and distributed to local municipalities.
Nevertheless, some locals and Bainbridge village officials have concerns ranging from benefits of the project for area residents, to tax and environmental impacts, to the effects that the project may have on municipal services.
Payne Solar has conducted state environmental reviews required to advance the project. The company is proposing the solar farm be constructed at 1 Pruyn St., a site that once housed the Borden Chemical plant but was abandoned after an explosion contaminated the area. The site was fully remediated in 2013 in accordance with New York State DEC guidelines.
Payne Solar has divided their undertaking into four smaller projects to satisfy NYS solar community incentive guidelines which restrict solar projects to a five-megawatt maximum. The four projects – totaling $14.4 million – will be constructed and connected at the same 56.5-acre site to the west of State Route 7.
The solar proposal has been approved by the Bainbridge town planning board which required Payne Solar to put together an acceptable decommissioning plan for expended solar panels. Even so, some locals and Bainbridge village officials are uneasy about Payne Solar’s plan and are urging the CCIDA to thoughtfully mull over the decision before offering a tax abatement.
“We’re not getting benefits from this project,” said Bainbridge Mayor Phil Wade at the CCIDA’s public hearing. “It does produce electricity; but it’s going to be community solar which is available to the people in this area and it’s also available for anyone in the state to take advantage of this project.”
“We believe that this project is subject to a lot of factors that should be considered when the IDA considers its application,” he added.
David DeClue, the attorney representing the owner of the property where Payne Solar plans to build, also spoke at the CCIDA’s hearing, making his case that the project would ultimately benefit the community.
“When he says there’s no benefit to taxpayers in the village of Bainbridge, I disagree,” DeClue said. “I’ve examined the aspects from all directions. It’s going to happen. I know that the IDA has options. I just hope that you’ll keep the interests of the people of Bainbridge in mind when you make your decision.”
The CCIDA board has pushed a vote for tax breaks off until their next meeting, citing a lack of information that they could provide to the public.
“There were a series of questions that made us think that we may need to go back and have an additional public hearing,” said Commerce Chenango President and CEO Sal Testani. “We will vote on this at the next scheduled IDA meeting in September.”
The CCIDA is now drafting a public meeting notice for the next public hearing.
The project, potentially to receive financial assistance from the Chenango County Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), appears at a standstill while CCIDA board members contemplate community feedback offered by locals during a public hearing held at Bainbridge Town Hall earlier this month. The CCIDA has held off on a vote to approve tax breaks for the project which may upend developers’ decision to move forward with their proposal.
Payne Solar Farm, a subsidiary of CSG Developers and the LLC behind the Bainbridge initiative, is seeking tax exemptions from the CCIDA for materials used in construction, along with property tax abatements that would extend over the next 20 years – all of which are crucial to drive the project forward, according to company spokesmen. In return, Payne Solar says the county would benefit from temporary and permanent jobs created, local services used, as well as a share of clean energy produced and distributed to local municipalities.
Nevertheless, some locals and Bainbridge village officials have concerns ranging from benefits of the project for area residents, to tax and environmental impacts, to the effects that the project may have on municipal services.
Payne Solar has conducted state environmental reviews required to advance the project. The company is proposing the solar farm be constructed at 1 Pruyn St., a site that once housed the Borden Chemical plant but was abandoned after an explosion contaminated the area. The site was fully remediated in 2013 in accordance with New York State DEC guidelines.
Payne Solar has divided their undertaking into four smaller projects to satisfy NYS solar community incentive guidelines which restrict solar projects to a five-megawatt maximum. The four projects – totaling $14.4 million – will be constructed and connected at the same 56.5-acre site to the west of State Route 7.
The solar proposal has been approved by the Bainbridge town planning board which required Payne Solar to put together an acceptable decommissioning plan for expended solar panels. Even so, some locals and Bainbridge village officials are uneasy about Payne Solar’s plan and are urging the CCIDA to thoughtfully mull over the decision before offering a tax abatement.
“We’re not getting benefits from this project,” said Bainbridge Mayor Phil Wade at the CCIDA’s public hearing. “It does produce electricity; but it’s going to be community solar which is available to the people in this area and it’s also available for anyone in the state to take advantage of this project.”
“We believe that this project is subject to a lot of factors that should be considered when the IDA considers its application,” he added.
David DeClue, the attorney representing the owner of the property where Payne Solar plans to build, also spoke at the CCIDA’s hearing, making his case that the project would ultimately benefit the community.
“When he says there’s no benefit to taxpayers in the village of Bainbridge, I disagree,” DeClue said. “I’ve examined the aspects from all directions. It’s going to happen. I know that the IDA has options. I just hope that you’ll keep the interests of the people of Bainbridge in mind when you make your decision.”
The CCIDA board has pushed a vote for tax breaks off until their next meeting, citing a lack of information that they could provide to the public.
“There were a series of questions that made us think that we may need to go back and have an additional public hearing,” said Commerce Chenango President and CEO Sal Testani. “We will vote on this at the next scheduled IDA meeting in September.”
The CCIDA is now drafting a public meeting notice for the next public hearing.
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