Two more smaller solar projects have been proposed for Chautauqua County — this time in the towns of Sheridan and Chautauqua.

On Tuesday, members of the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency heard from two solar companies for two different projects.

SHERIDAN PROJECT

James Bedrin is a project development manager for Dimension Renewable Energy. His company is based in Atlanta and also has offices in New York City. He said they have multiple solar projects in New York underway.

In Sheridan, his company is looking to build two solar projects on a 100-acre parcel that would be subdivided. The property is located at Werley and Harrington roads.

According to Bedrin, both solar projects are about 4.125 megawatts and can power more than 2,000 homes.

They have been working with the Sheridan zoning and planning boards, which have signed off on the project. A public hearing with the town board is set for tonight, May 26, at 7 p.m. in the Community Building behind the town hall.

The county IDA Board of Directors gave preliminary approval for the projects. After passing the resolutions necessary, the IDA will hold its own public hearing and do a cost benefit analysis for select tax exemptions.

Rich Dixon, county IDA chief financial officer, expressed his support for the project moving forward. “These are just more of the renewable energy projects coming to our county. They benefit the landowner, they benefit our reliability to provide green energy, and we’re excited about these projects,” he said.

DEWITTVILLE PROJECT

Omni Navitas Solar Energy Development is proposing a solar project to be placed on Hartfield-Stockton Road in Dewittville. The development would permit a 5- megawatt project and be placed on 30 acres. The company is seeking financial assistance through sales, mortgage and property tax.

Dixon said the company and the IDA are working closely with the town of Chautauqua on the project. “This is another exciting project for Chautauqua County,” he said.

Omni Navitas is located in Boston, Mass.

The county IDA Board of Directors again gave preliminary approval for the project, permitting the studies to move forward. The vote was unanimous.

The Chautauqua Town Board has scheduled a public hearing on June 14 during the board’s regular monthly meeting. Company officials said the zoning board has given its approval for it.

If full approval is given, Omni Navitas would like to start construction in September. The solar project would take about six months to complete.

SOLAR PROJECTS CONTINUE

There have been a number of proposed and approved solar projects that have come before the county IDA. Last month, the IDA gave preliminary approval for two projects in the town of Dunkirk and gave its final approval for two projects in Ashville.

In November, the county IDA approved a solar project in the town of Hanover and in June the IDA approved a solar project in the town of Portland.

All of the solar projects approved by the IDA need the approval of the local municipality’s governing board as well; the IDA only signs off on the financial tax incentives.

In Pomfret, RIC Energy wants to clear part of what is now a wooded area on Van Buren Road, just past the Chestnut Street intersection, and erect solar panels there. The company proposes landscape plantings and conservation of part of the 24.47 acre parcel, which abuts a residential neighborhood on Bernett Drive in Fredonia, so neighbors won’t see the project. That development has seen some pushback from nearby neighbors as well as town officials. A public hearing is set for June. That project has not been presented to the county IDA for review.

In Ellicott, the town’s zoning and planning board last week expressed their displeasure that paperwork for a proposed solar project at 3365 N. Main St. Ext. and near the Chautauqua County-Jamestown Airport has not been properly completed. Storke Renewables is proposing two solar projects, both around 2 megawatts. That project has not been submitted to the county IDA. The zoning and planning boards are expected to take the project up again next month.

All these solar projects are 5 megawatt and under. In Ripley, a 270-megawatt project has been proposed near the Pennsylvania border. Both the county IDA and the Chautauqua County Legislature have heard from many residents expressing their support and opposition to the project. The county IDA gave preliminary approval last summer; however, the developers have not yet returned to the IDA for final approval. At the end of last year, county officials said they did not expect a final vote by the county IDA for several months and pledged to investigate the project.