CANTON – A representative for EDF Renewables wanted members of the town board to know the solar developers are not pleased with the proposed revisions to the town code dealing with solar projects and the way the proposed changes have been handled.

At Tuesday night’s (Oct. 10) public hearing, Jonathan Geldard
, Grid Scale Power-
NYEDF Renewables, spoke about what the revised code would mean for the 240-megawatt Rich Road Solar Energy Center.

“It has come to our attention that a recent zoning change proposal may significantly impact our project, and we felt it imperative to express our concerns to both town officials and local residents who stand to significantly benefit from the project,” he stated.

One code revision would rezone several parcels within the solar center boundaries to Residential-Agricultural and prohibit large-scale solar energy system in that zone.

“To our dismay, we were never notified of these zoning changes, and this lack of communication has raised serious concerns about the potential consequences for our project. We believe in open dialogue and collaboration with every community where we engage in development,” said Geldard. “We have had several workshop conversations with members of the town board and town planning board to address specific questions and concerns through most of 2022 in preparation of the project's 94-c application to the State.”

Geldard said EDF has engaged in open discussions with town officials and has addressed questions and concerns from community members.

“We value the communities where we choose to build projects, and we are committed to working together to make this project as beneficial as possible for all those impacted.That is why it is so disheartening to learn that these changes to the zoning laws have been in discussion for the last four years all the while we were reviewing zoning elements of this project with town officials, without notification of any of the changes,” Geldard continued In our view, the new proposed law includes many changes that will unravel most if not all of the common ground we have collaboratively worked to achieve.”

“We kindly request that town officials further consider these proposed zoning changes and allow for consultation with our company as an affected party. We believe that with continued collaborative effort, we can find a solution that accommodates the town's needs while also safeguarding the positive economic benefits and environmental balance of our project.”

Geldard also alluded to the economic impact of the solar center, saying The Rich Road Solar Energy Center project has the potential to bring numerous benefits to the local community, including an estimated $24 million in payments to the Town of Canton, St. Lawrence County, and local school districts in the first 35 years of operation of the project, up to 300 jobs at the peak of construction, which is expected to start in early 2025.