Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Renewable Energy Decommissioning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning board flags growth of solar, data centers and battery storage and worries about decommissioning
Summary
Board members told county staff they expect more solar, data center and battery storage proposals and voiced concerns about decommissioning, potential waste if developers abandon sites, and limits on local control imposed by state siting (ORES).
Members of the Wayne County Planning Board said at the May 27 meeting they expect an uptick in major energy infrastructure projects — solar farms, data centers and battery storage — and urged caution about long-term decommissioning and local oversight. Executive Director Brian Pincelli said developers are frequently seeking PILOTs through the IDA and that a county map of projects (noted in the meeting as NYSERTA) shows several proposals; Mr. Peters and others said prior approvals lacked sufficient decommissioning guarantees and asked for clearer requirements. "There is a general concern of the decommissioning process when 10-15 years down the road the developer walks away from the project and leaves behind waste," Pincelli said.
Board members also raised the potential for the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) to limit local control over siting decisions; Mr. Conklin said he was concerned ORES could restrict the county's say, while Mr. Pincelli observed ORES "has not come to Wayne County yet." The board did not take formal action but flagged the topic for continued attention as the county anticipates more permit referrals for large energy projects.
