Community Solar Project Planned for Town of Hanover
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2020
Contact: Mark Geise
(716) 489-6075
SILVER CREEK, NY— At its meeting today, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) Board of Directors approved financial assistance to Hanover PV, LLC, including Payment in Lieu of Tax (PILOT) agreement providing real property tax abatement, sales tax abatement, and mortgage recording tax abatement for a new community solar farm planned there.
The project will generate clean renewable solar energy to sell to the local community at a discount under the New York State Electric and Gas Corporation’s (NYSEG) Community Distributed Generation Program. Community Distributed Generation (“CDG”) is a program offered by NYSEG which allows ratepayers to sign up to purchase bill credits from a local solar project, thereby supporting the production of 100% renewable energy in the community. Though it is not a requirement of the program, these bill credits are generally offered at a discount so that CDG customers will wind up paying less on the total NYSEG bill than non-subscribing NYSEG customers.
The Hanover PV solar project includes construction of a 5 megawatt A/C solar powered electrical generation facility (solar farm) on 31.14 acres of vacant unfarmed land located at 1321 Routes 5 & 20, Silver Creek, New York in the Town of Hanover. The development will be situated approximately 12 acres back from the Routes 5 & 20 thoroughfare at the far rear portion of a 45 acre parcel that has been actively marketed for development by the landowner for over 10 years. The 12 acres of real estate frontage remains available for future retail or commercial development.
Hanover PV, LLC is owned by RIC Development LLC. Company President Jon Rappe said, “We are pleased to be working with the Chautauqua County IDA to implement our shared goal of supporting the economic health of the region while building the clean energy infrastructure of the future with the construction of the Hanover Solar Farm. The land on which the project will be built is commercial property on Routes 5 & 20 owned by Rattlesnake Enterprises, LLC. The value of the property will be enhanced significantly by dedicating the road frontage to future retail while using the rear portion of the lot to collect lease revenue from the solar farm. As it quietly produces clean energy for the next 30 years at a community scale, it will add diversity to the production economy of Chautauqua County while being a good neighbor to the surrounding community of Hanover.”
Over the past 15 months Rattlesnake Enterprises landowner Steve Valvo, and together more recently with RIC Energy, has been at the forefront working with Town of Hanover officials to develop the project here. In response, the Town of Hanover passed a solar zoning law in June of this year. Giving credit to the entire Town of Hanover Board, Town Supervisor Todd Johnson said, “We are looking forward to whatever we can do for renewable energy and to promote it within the town. The Town Board anticipates passing our approval in December.”
Mark Geise, Chautauqua County’s Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CEO of the CCIDA said, “Hanover PV, LLC and RIC Development have been terrific to work with through the project process. With the Town’s recent adoption of a solar law for new development there we are pleased we can support this project.”
Chautauqua County Executive Paul Wendel said, “We are glad the county and CCIDA could support the Town’s wishes for this solar development.”
The Hanover PV, LLC development will commence in the spring of 2021 and is expected to be fully operational by summer 2021.
About RIC Energy
RIC Development, LLC is the US development arm of RIC Energy, a global solar company headquartered in Madrid, Spain. With a 15-year history in the solar industry, RIC prides itself on developing solar projects at a community scale, which involves identifying project stakeholders early in the development process and taking into account a range of perspectives on development to ensure the best outcomes for neighbors, host communities, customers and the environment.
About the CCIDA
The CCIDA is an economic development organization authorized and empowered by the State of New York to make Chautauqua County a better place to work, live, visit, and conduct business. The organization facilitates development by attracting new businesses, while promoting the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Assistance in the form of incentives – tax abatements, low interest loans, and bond financing – enhances the opportunities for job creation and retention for our businesses. For more information, visit www.ccida.com.
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