Peru Solar Farm Plans Steadily Advancing
By John T. Ryan
Peru – Barring unforeseen delays, by early 2023 a community solar farm generating enough electricity to power about 750 homes should be operating in Peru. RENUA Energy President David Byrne, the project developer, described the $8 to $10 million project to the Peru Planning Board at its November 10th meeting. The solar farm will be located on property owned by Robert and Cecile Moffat at 3821 Route 22, not far from Airborne Park Speedway. Its 13,806 panels will occupy 27.6 acres of a 73-acre parcel just south of the Airborne Speedway. The 3.5 ft. x 6 ft. panels have an estimated 40-year lifespan.
David Byrne, an experienced developer, has worked on about 30 New York solar farms. Emphasizing empathy for a solar farm’s host community, Byrne told the Gazette, “I feel good about this project. It will not impact any of its neighbors. The solar panels will be enclosed by a seven-foot-high fence and located about 2,000 feet west of Route 22, not visible to passing motorists.”
The planned solar farm features the latest technology. The panels will be bifacial; they will have solar cells on both sides. This will enable them to absorb light from the back and front including light reflected off the ground or another material. Computers will also rotate the panels, directing them to the most available sunlight.
The project should have both short and long-term positive impacts on our region. If possible, Byrne plans to hire local contractors for site work, and mechanical installation (to include racking and panels). When the farm is operational, there will be ongoing maintenance needs. Most importantly, NYSEG customers will have the opportunity to purchase the project’s energy, reducing their home and business energy costs.
Preliminary Planning Board approval and a public hearing are required before the project gets underway.
Posted: November 22nd, 2021 under Business News, Environmental News, Northern NY News, Peru News, Peru/Regional History, Planning Board News.