County will study feasibility of solar project
ALBION – Orleans County has hired a firm to examine the feasibility of a solar energy project on county-owned property.
The Orleans County Legislature last week agreed to pay $10,500 to the Wendel firm in Williamsville to study if a solar array would benefit the county.
Orleans officials see potential in a project because of current incentives for utilizing renewable energy.
The county could lock in its electricity rates for 30 years with a large-scale project and also sell back electricity through the solar effort.
“Right now the incentives are at a maximum and the technology continues to improve,” Legislature Chairman David Callard said. “The time may be right.”
Wendel would look at publicly owned land, including sites owned by the Orleans Economic Development Agency, for a possible project, Callard said.
