TOWN OF MANLIUS – On June 14, the public will have an opportunity to comment on the largest solar proposal ever presented in the town of Manlius.
The project, presented by CVE North America, Inc., a solar energy company based in New York City, would be a total of 11.5 megawatts over more than 220 acres. The site lies immediately west of Fayetteville-Manlius High School and has frontage on East Seneca Turnpike and Duguid Road.
Because New York State prohibits the construction of community solar projects larger than five megawatts, the developer wants to subdivide the property into four parcels. Three would have distinct solar projects and the fourth smaller parcel has an existing cell tower on it adjacent to the high school.
The project will create enough energy to power about 2,000 homes in Manlius.
“We think this is sited really well,” said Carson Weinand of CVE. “It’s out of view on all sides.”
The project would feature more than 35,000 panels that would be set up on an axis to follow the sun from east to west throughout the day. The panels are black and have a matte finish to reduce glare.
CVE has sent the plans to the F-M School District for the district’s feedback on the project. The setback along the high school boundary is about 100 feet.
The board has yet to determine whether it will treat this proposal as a single project or three distinct projects. The town has a policy prohibiting solar projects within one mile of one another, but the planning board has the discretion to overrule that policy if it determines there isn’t a negative community impact.
The public hearing on June 14 will be at the first in-person meeting of the planning board in months. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. and will still be livestreamed for those who can’t be in attendance.
