Ellery Town Board members are poised to delay development of wind, solar and battery energy storage system projects for up to a year.

Public hearings to extend the town’s moratorium on solar farms, wind farms and battery energy storage systems were held June 9. The solar project, wind and BESS moratoriums will last for six months after the Ellery Town Board passes the moratorium and can be extended twice, for three months each time, if the board passes a resolution.

The town is in the midst of drafting a local law governing wind energy and is considering drafting a local law governing BESS systems, as well. Councilman Mark Schlemmer led a discussion of a possible revision to the final draft of the town’s solar law. The board will require that components used are required to be recycled as part of the decommissioning of solar projects in the town of Ellery. Solar energy systems proposed in sensitive areas near Chautauqua Lake, near schools, near Long Point State Park, the village of Bemus point and wildlife management areas will have to meet higher standards and analysis within 2,500 feet, and solar systems will be required to be set back 2,500 feet from any non-participating property line.

Utility poles required for interconnection lines must be placed a minimum of 200 feet from an adjoining non-participating property line. The board also approved setting deadlines on solar projects. Once a special use permit is granted solar developers will have six months to obtain a building permit and then be given a year to complete their project. Neil Robinson, town attorney, reminded board members the town’s local law can’t be so restrictive that it prevents development of solar farms.

In other business:

– the board approved a contract with the Chautauqua County Humane Society as well as designating the Humane Society and Jeff Johnson Dog Kennels as organizations to receive voluntary contributions for animal shelter services to be paid each year. The voluntary contributions can be made when town residents get their dog licensed, with the town paying residents’ contributions once a year.