Company details plans for 2 solar projects on 63 in Shelby

Photos by Tom Rivers: Dave Strong, senior project developer for New Leak Energy, met with Shelby community member on Tuesday evening to discuss the company’s plan for two solar projects along Route 63 in Shelby on land that was eyed for two wind turbines.

SHELBY – New Leaf Energy presented its plans for two solar projects to the community on Tuesday, touting the project as a boost in tax revenue for local governments while adding 9 megawatts of power to the grid with minimal impacts.

The projects together would generate about 9 megawatts of power. The solar installations are planned on South Gravel Road (Route 63) where two wind turbines were eyed by Borrego Solar System Inc. Borrego spun off the development side of its business to ECP, which named the new company, New Leaf Energy.

Dave Strong said the project will have minimal negative impacts while generating about $1 million in revenue for local governments in the next 15 years.

New Leaf withdrew its plans for the 633-foot-high turbines in March. Shelby town officials declined to create a wind overlay district needed for the project to move forward.

New Leaf has switched to solar proposals with one project at 18 acres at the Ledge Rock Farm at 4364 South Gravel where there is an apple orchard. The other would cover 20 acres at 4326 South Gravel where corn is currently being grown.

Dave Strong, senior project developer for New Leaf Energy, said the apple farm will continue with the solar taking out 18 acres of a farm with 100 to 125 acres of apples. The apples coming out of production are older, less popular varieties, he said.

The solar is planned to be set back 800 feet from Route 63, which is four times the town’s requirement of at least a 200-foot setback.

Strong said the project fits the town ordinance. The Shelby Town Board needs to do a SEQR environmental study and also vote whether the project is approved. The board currently only has two out of five members and can’t vote on anything until there is at least a third member on the board.

New Leaf will pay an estimated $1,089,485 in municipal revenue over 15 years, with it split in thirds with the Town of Shelby, Orleans County and Medina School District. The payments include $63,000 in the first year with 2 percent annual increases, peaking at $83,127 in year 15. Fire and library taxes also are included, Strong said.

New Leaf will have a bond in place to cover decommissioning costs, which is currently at $131,646. After 25 years, at a 2.5 percent annual rate increase, the cost would be $244,065.

Decommissioning includes removing everything in the project – modules, racks, rack wiring, electrical equipment, concrete pads, load racks, foundation piles, fences, power poles, gravel road reclamation and trucking to transfer station.

The projects don’t include any battery storage. Strong said there would by 4-by-8-foot solar panels mounted on aluminum racks. The electricity could tie into three-phase electric lines on 63, he said.

New Leaf also will do a glare study to ensure the panels are set up in a way that won’t adversely affect drivers, Strong said.

The two projects are planned along Route 63, south of the Village of Medina.