Tag: Pembroke

Genesee County officials have agreed to hold public hearings soon on a national solar power company’s proposal to locate five solar arrays in the towns of Batavia and Pembroke. 

Borrego Solar is looking for $2.5 million in tax abatements on the properties over 15 years, but would pay more than $2 million in lieu of taxes to the towns and three school districts in which the projects fall. 

Borrego is based in California and has a large regional office for the Northeast in Lowell, Mass. It has developed solar projects around the country, with one of the closest in Seneca, Ontario County, where an array supplies power for Ithaca College 40 miles away. 

These five proposed projects would supply power for subscribers. 

Jim Krencik with the Genesee County Economic Development Center said dates for the public hearings would most likely be set next week and take place later this month. The economic development center’s board agreed to move ahead at its meeting Thursday night. 

Three solar arrays would be located in the town of Batavia at:

• 5230 Batavia-Stafford Townline Road in Elba Central School District.
• 3104 West Main Street Road in Pembroke Central School District
• 3232 West Main Street Road in Pembroke’s district

Two others would be located in the town of Pembroke and Akron Central School District:

• 241 Knapp Road East 
• 241 Knapp Road West

The quintet of solar arrays would generate 26 megawatts of energy and $2.092 million in revenue for the towns and school districts in which they lay. The economic development center also negotiated a $25,000 contribution from the projects that will be dedicated to STEM education and related economic development, Krencik said. 

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