Chautauqua County legislators have agreed to begin steps to permit a large solar project be installed at the Dunkirk airport, although the decision was not unanimous.

During the county legislature meeting, lawmakers voted 14-4 to authorize a Memorandum Of Understanding with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to begin exploring installing a 25 megawatt solar project with battery storage at the airport, which sits in the town of Sheridan.

There’s about 168 acres of land available at the airport, which can’t be developed. If the project takes place, the county would receive payments for the solar project.

At the Administrative Services Committee the week before, Legislator Bob Scudder, R-Fredonia, voted in favor of the project but changed his mind during the full vote. “This is not a vote against the Dunkirk airport, it’s just not a vote in favor of the solar project,” he said.

Legislator Dan Pavlock, R-Ellington, said he doesn’t support a solar project at the Dunkirk airport either. “I feel that we should be, as a state and as a country, seeking other alternatives that have a better long-term feasibility,” he said.

Pavlock indicated he would rather see the former NRG Power Plant be brought back than having solar projects installed throughout the county and state. “I think with some research and development, I think just as a clean producing plant could be put there (in Dunkirk) and produce just as much energy,” he said.

Legislator Dave Wilfong, R-Jamestown, disagreed, in that he believes America is moving forward with renewable energy. “If you travel around the country, solar farms and wind farms are popping up. I’m not a big fan of them myself, but you either lead, follow or get out of the way,” he said.

Wilfong added that he has seen other airports with solar projects nearby. “I think it’s a great opportunity for Dunkirk to move forward. I wish it was in the city of Jamestown, where I represent, but I think it’s an opportunity that we cannot afford to pass,” he said.

NYSERTA officials previously said they looked at installing solar panels at the Jamestown airport, as well as at the county landfill, however they believe there would be interconnection problems at those locations.

Along with Scudder and Pavlock, Republican legislators Marty Proctor of Mina and Jamie Gustafson of Busti voted no.

NYSERTA requested the Memorandum Of Understanding from the county so it could go ahead and continue to explore the opportunity. There are several steps that must occur before any solar panels would be installed there, including a glare study by the Federal Aviation Administration. The project would also likely have to go before the county Industrial Development Agency to get a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes agreement.

Officials with NYSERTA’s Build Ready Program said they are tasked to find locations for solar projects that private developers will often pass on because of the bureaucracy. Once they get a project in place, it is usually sold to a private energy company.

No timeline has been announced as to when a solar project could potentially be installed at the Dunkirk airport.