The Chautauqua County IDA Board of Directors listens to Matt Effler about a solar project in the town of Dunkirk. The county IDA met at the Center for Innovation & Economic Development in Dunkirk. P-J photo by Gregory Bacon

DUNKIRK – A solar project that was first proposed four years ago on about 20 acres of vacant land owned by the County Fair organization has been approved for tax incentives.

During the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency meeting, board members approved a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes agreement for a 5 megawatt solar array project to be constructed at 10653 Brigham Road, Dunkirk town.

Looking at the county GIS page, it is a separate parcel from property that is used annually during the county fair and does not connect to Central Avenue or Waldorff Road.

Rosemarie Strandburg with the county IDA said they first received the application back in 2021 from Solar Liberty.

The project is expected to cost $6.5 million to construct.

Strandburg said the project “went silent” in late 2021. In 2025 it was purchased by Catalyze.

Matt Effler with Catalyze attended the county IDA meeting virtually and discussed the project.

He said that Solar Liberty will construct the solar project, but his company will be the owner.

“It’s going on the Chautauqua County Agriculture and Fair Association property, which, prior to this project has been tax exempt from property taxes, so the additional PILOT costs and revenue from that is kind of a bonus, as in they weren’t paying taxes on the property before,” Effler said.

Effler said they have already received a Special Use Permit from the Town of Dunkirk.

Catalyze is involved in a number of other solar projects around the county.

During the discussion, IDA Chief Executive Officer Mark Geise expressed concern that Catalyze has yet to pay its fees to the county for the other projects.

Effler said he felt they shouldn’t have to pay the fees until a project is closed.

Geise wanted to see the fee payments sooner. “We feel like we’re being strung out, expending all this time and effort. It’s been years,” he said.

Other solar projects that Catalyze is involved with include Portland, Busti, and Ashville.

Milan Tyler, an attorney with the county IDA, recommended the IDA Board of Directors give Geise the authority to negotiate the fee payments with Catalyze when it voted on the approving resolution, which it did.

A timeline for construction was not provided at the meeting.