Solar panels planned for 370 acres

SCHUYLER COUNTY-Watkins Glen Solar Energy Center, LLC plans a solar project in the town of Dix that will cover 370 acres with commercial-scale solar panels.
Watkins Glen Solar Energy Center, LLC is seeking authority from the New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting to construct a 50-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic electric generating facility in the town of Dix, adjacent to Watkins Glen International racetrack.
The project components will include commercial-size solar arrays, access roads, buried (and possibly overhead) electric lines and electrical interconnection facilities. The connection details include a new collection substation and a switchyard that will be transferred to New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) to own and operate. The proposed collection substation and connection facilities will be located on land south of the solar arrays within the project area, adjacent to the NYSEG Bath-Montour Falls transmission line. The project is proposed to be built on land leased from WGI. The solar panels are planned for 370 acres-however the land available from WGI includes 775 acres. (A map of the project area is above).
The project will generate enough electricity to power approximately 12,000 households.

NextEra Energy Project Director Michael Dowling said, "The Watkins project will be one of the largest solar facilities in New York state when completed." Dowling would not specify the exact dollar amount for this project. However, Dowling did say a solar facility this size can be up to an $80 million investment.
Watkins Glen Solar Energy, a limited liability corporation is wholly-owned by North Park Energy, LLC, which is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of NextEra Resources, LLC. NextEra is a Fortune 200 company and the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun.
Watkins Glen Solar Energy plans to file a preliminary scoping statement with the siting board on or about Aug. 8. Within 21 days after the scoping filing is completed the public is invited to submit comments on the scoping statement. Comments should be submitted to the Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary to the Siting Board, New York State Public Service Commission, Agency Building 3, Albany, NY 12223-1350 or electronically to secretary@dps.ny.gov. Comments must reference case number 17-F-0595.
To find more information, go the website www.dps.ny.go/SitingBoard or call 1-800-201-2402.
Hard copies of the scoping statement are also available at the town of Dix, 304 Seventh St., Watkins Glen and the Watkins Glen Library, 610 S. Decatur St.
The company is planning several public informational meetings for Schuyler County residents during winter 2019 and spring 2020. The Watkins project is scheduled to be operational by winter, 2022.