The power grid on Grand Island is about to get a whole lot greener. Last month, the Town Board unanimously approved developer plans to build a $7 million community solar power plant on an 18-acre plot of industrial land along Bedell Road. When it’s complete, the project will be the largest community solar plant in the state. The solar plant will be constructed in a joint effort between BlueRock Solar and Active Solar Development.
Once it’s up and running, the power plant will include roughly 12,000 solar panels and provide electricity for about 400 homes and businesses throughout the community. Best of all, there will be no up-front costs to business owners and homeowners associated with the solar installation. Instead, the solar power will be implemented in a simple pay-as-you-go model designed to keeps energy bills low.
“We’re not running some type of line from the solar farm to your house,” said BlueRock Solar General Manager Michael Francis in an interview with WBFO. “You’re still getting electricity in the same way that you would otherwise. You’re just getting bill credits. And these bill credits are able to offset both the supply and the delivery portion of your bill.”
Construction crews will break ground on the project later this summer, and it’s expected to be operational by the end of the year. According to Francis, the impressive solar array will be clearly visible from Interstate 190, providing passersby with an eye-catching view of this innovative, forward-thinking community solar project. In the future, it could become a model for other similar solar plants in the region as well.
Want to learn more about all there is to love about living on Grand Island? Give us a call today at (716) 773-2788 to speak with a representative at Town Hall Terrace!