NYSERDA to hold open house on proposed solar project in Dryden

The New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) is holding an open house for a proposed solar project in the town of Dryden.

Through its build ready program, NYSERDA is proposing a 12.5-megawatt solar array facility and a 2.5-megawatt battery energy storage system along Caswell Road in Dryden. The program is an effort to work closely with Tompkins County officials.

NYSERDA’s open house is scheduled for April 17 at 6 p.m. at the fire hall at 26 North St. in the village of Dryden.

According to a drafted sketch plan of the project, it could potentially be constructed at the former Ithaca North Landfill Site, known locally as the Caswell Road Landfill, located at 557 Caswell Rd. The length of the project would go from the east side of Caswell Road to the south side of Peruville Road in Dryden.

The 112-acre former landfill opened in 1970 and closed in 1985. The landfill averaged 29,400 tons of solid waste per year during its 15 years of operation.

The Dryden-based landfill site is one of two areas under an memorandum of understanding with NYSERDA for lands considered to be beneficial for solar-energy projects. The other area in agreement is another landfill located in Orange County.

According to documents, the project footprint “encompasses” over 51 acres on three parcels that make up the former landfill site.

Noted in the documents, “The proposed interconnection would cross an adjacent private parcel to the north, then east within the right-of-way of Peruville Road to connect to the Peruville substation. 

“The project’s underground electrical interconnection will be located in an easement on a private parcel directly north, and then east along the Peruville Road right-of-way to connect to the Peruville Substation. The majority of the project site consists of a closed and capped landfill. The private parcel to the north is agricultural land.”

NYSERDA, in partnership with TRC engineering company, will provide the open house as an opportunity to provide information and answer questions about the solar project.

Terry Carroll, chief sustainability officer for the county, said the entire project will go through an approval process with the Dryden town board and planning board. The project itself will be introduced to the town board at its April 18 meeting.

“The town of Dryden is looking forward to participating in the review of this project,” said Dryden Town Supervisor Jason Leifer in the past. “Transforming this brownfield to a beneficial use would be in the community’s interest. The town of Dryden is already host to renewable energy projects that collectively produce (tons of) megawatts of power. Using brownfields for this purpose is preferable to using farmland.”

Once the development and approval process is complete, Carroll said that NYSERDA will auction the project for construction. NYSERDA’s hope, Carroll added, is that the project will begin construction in either 2025 or 2026. It is based on the “financial atmosphere” of the project as well, Carroll said.

“The nice thing about solar (projects) on a landfill is that it’s not taking up space that would be utilized for another use,” Carroll said. “It’s not putting solar on farmland or some sort of development. We’re talking about a closed landfill that in all likelihood will not be used for anything else. This is a way to make use of the land and get all the benefits of solar, which is clean, renewable electricity. It’s something we strive for as we combat climate change.”

Carroll said the county is more than willing to lease the landfill to NYSERDA, but wants to make sure the project is “done in the best way possible.”

“The safety and continued operation of the landfill is paramount,” Carroll said. “We’re being really diligent on that point.”

Dryden Dispatch appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Dryden School District seeks school board candidates

The Dryden Central School District is seeking candidates for its upcoming school board election.

Four seats are up for a vote at the May 21 election. Three of the seats will have a three-year term from July 1 of this year to June 30, 2027. The fourth and final seat will run from July 1 of this year to June 30, 2025.

For further information or to obtain a candidate packet, contact District Clerk Carrie Merriman at 607-844-5361 or cmerrim1@dryden.k12.ny.us.

Candidate petitions, with 25 signatures, are due in the district clerk’s office by April 22 at 5 p.m.

‘Paws to Read’ event on April 13

The Southworth Library in the village of Dryden will have its regular “Paws to Read” event this Saturday, April 13, at 10:30 a.m.

The event invites children to come to the library and practice reading with dogs from the Cornell Canine Companions.

For more information, go to southworthlibrary.org.