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A contentious public hearing in the town of Cambria on Tuesday night saw residents voice major concerns about a solar project in Niagara County and what good the project will actually bring to the town and the county.
The project, a new 100MWac Utility Scale solar farm, will cost more than $220 million project would consist of more than 500 acres of land leased between Cambria and Pendleton.
An initial proposal from Bear Ridge Solar of more than $26 million in tax breaks is now down to approximately $14 million.
"You’re giving one employee, one job to Niagara County for this much money," one speaker said. "I can’t even imagine."
"Opposing these tax breaks is not the same as opposing renewable energy," another speaker said. "Many people support responsible energy development, but support for renewable energy should not mean automatic approval of every tax exemption request."
The Bear Ridge Timeline for the solar project would have construction beginning as early as this month, with completion anticipated by April 2028.
"What’s troubling for me is, when a company puts in their application that its not an economically viable project. And its in their application, that if we won’t give them the tax breaks and the incentives that their asking for, the projects not economically viable," Cambria resident Trevor Ganshaw added.
Another public hearing is Thursday night in Pendleton.
