County weighs solar canopy at Whole Health after $825,000 clean-energy grant; Cornell, village approvals required

County staff presented three options for a planned solar canopy over the Whole Health parking area after receiving an $825,000 clean-energy communities grant tied to a project that would reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. The most time-sensitive constraint is federal tax-credit eligibility, which staff said would require starting construction this year to capture roughly $439,000 in tax incentives. If the project misses that window, staff said the county could still proceed with a smaller system costing about $825,000 but could not count on the larger federal credit. Terry, county staff working on the clean-energy program, told the Facilities and Infrastructure Committee that Cornell — the property lessor — must approve the canopy design and that Cornell is asking for two things before consenting: a village sign-off letter and a decommissioning agreement and bond to remove the array at lease end. "Cornell has said that if we got that letter...they would require a decommissioning agreement and a bond or escrow saying that when we vacated the premise...we would take out the system," Terry said. The Village of Lansing’s zoning includes a 15-foot height limit for accessory structures; the proposed canopy would peak at roughly 19 feet 5 inches and therefore likely needs a variance under local law. Terry said village officials had favored the county going through the village planning and zoning process, which would mean applying for a special-use permit and a zoning-board variance and could add time and uncertainty. "That only takes one or two people on a zoning board...to really throw a monkey in their works," Terry said. County staff offered three paths: 1) perform a Monroe balancing test and ask the village to accept the test result and provide a letter to Cornell so the county could self-permit; 2) pursue the Village of Lansing’s approval and variance process directly; or 3) abandon the canopy at Whole Health and redirect the grant to a different eligible clean-energy project. Terry said staff would begin due diligence on alternatives, including whether the airport or other county-owned sites could host the array, but noted airport canopy work could require FAA and glint/glare reviews that add complexity and time. Committee members asked staff to explore options quickly. Legislator Mike Lane said he favored alternatives that avoid extended village review; Legislator Randy Brown suggested checking if the airport could host a canopy. Terry and administration said they would seek guidance and report back; no formal vote was taken. Ending Committee members asked staff to pursue due diligence on the village process, the Monroe balancing test and potential alternate locations, and to return with recommended next steps and updated cost estimates. Terry also said the county must notify NYSERDA by the end of October if it intends to change the project funded by the $825,000 grant and that any replacement project must be finished by Nov. 30, 2027, under the existing grant timeline.