The Allegany Planning Board will commence preliminary discussions on solar power in the community — and members want input on the issue from village and town residents.
The board plans a question-and-answer public meeting on the matter at 7 p.m. Tuesday
In the Allegany Senior Center on Birch Run, and all are invited to attend.
Chairman Frank DeFiore said the board will also review the possibility of adding a section to the comprehensive plan and the zoning ordinance regarding solar power.
DeFiore said the topic was initiated by a town board member, but no specifics are available at present.
“Because of the fact that (solar power) is getting to be a bigger thing, we thought maybe we would try to get a head start on it,” DeFiore said. “The town board asked the planning board to investigate it and see if they could put in a section in the comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance regarding solar power.”
DeFiore said the state government now has information regarding solar power and how to approach it with zoning and comprehensive planning.
“So it must be the state is looking at it also,” he surmised. “What we’re looking at is to see what the community thinks about it. I would also like to formulate a committee with the planning board.”
DeFiore said he has invited village officials to serve on the committee, and would like two or three residents from the town to serve, as well, and help with the comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance.
“I’m trying to get the public involved, if they want to, and let them be part of it,” he said. “I want to make sure that everybody in the public is aware of what’s going on and keep things as open as we possibly can.”
Jim Hitchcock, deputy supervisor for the town, echoed DeFiore’s sentiments on the meeting.
“(Solar panels) are quiet and don’t affect the view,” Hitchcock said, in reference to the proposal of wind turbines in the area several years ago. The proposed wind farm in Allegany was voted down in 2014 because of opposition from a number of area residents’ concerns that included noise and effects on geological features, plants, animals, agriculture and aesthetics.
“We’re proactive because people are probably going to eventually have solar in their homes,” Hitchcock said. “I can see a few places on the commercial basis, too, who would like to do something” with solar.
“It would be nice that rather than saying we’ll have to wait several months to establish a rule or regulation, maybe now we’ll be a little ahead of the game for a change,” Hitchcock said.
Hitchcock and DeFiore both noted solar power isn’t new to the area as there are a number of solar-panel arrays in Olean near Homer Street and other areas.
They were referring to solar farms in Olean that include Homeridae, a 17-acre former brownfield site between Homer Street and Interstate 86, which is designed to generate 3.3 megawatts of electricity. Two other solar farms located in Olean are the Solean and Solean West projects that
generate 7.75 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 1,330 homes for a year.
“With it being that close (to Allegany), I’m sure that’s where people are beginning to think, ‘Well, why not us,’” DeFiore said.
Town residents interested in serving on a solar power committee may send a letter of interest to DeFiore at the Allegany Town Hall, 2 W. Main St., Allegany, NY 14706.
