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Local resident urges clearer terms on taxes, decommissioning and reporting for proposed solar farm
Summary
A resident asked the town to clarify in-lieu-of-tax arrangements, decommissioning cost responsibilities and reporting requirements for a proposed 24-acre solar installation on a 41-acre property, and raised concerns about visual impacts and fence funding.
A Cheektowaga resident used public comment time to press the town for clearer written commitments about taxes, decommissioning and reporting for a proposed solar installation on a large site.
The speaker identified several concerns: whether the remainder of a 41-acre parcel (approximately 17 acres not used for panels as presented) would continue to be taxed at current rates or placed under an in-lieu-of-taxes arrangement; who would be financially responsible for site restoration at the end of the array’s life; and whether the town would receive and publish annual maintenance reports and the project emergency‑response plan.
“Anybody who thinks it will only cost $298,000 to restore this site in 25 to 30 years is probably pretty crazy,” the resident said, referring to a decommissioning cost figure found in supporting paperwork. The resident also said the contract paperwork did not specify which party would carry the decommissioning obligation and that residents feared being left with cleanup responsibility if the developer disbands.
The commentator raised a separate concern about fences and visual buffering, noting that a homeowner who installs a fence on their property “is not going to be able to block your view of that solar farm” and asked why the town-sourced funds would pay for fences rather than the developer. She asked that annual maintenance and emergency plans be provided to the town and posted publicly so neighbors can monitor ongoing compliance.
Town officials did not make any formal commitments on these points during public comment; the remarks were recorded for the public record and residents requested the town and applicant clarify taxes, decommissioning guarantees and reporting requirements in written documentation prior to any approvals.
