The developer of a proposed large-scale solar project in Ripley hopes to start construction in 2024.

During the recent Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency meeting, board members agreed to sell a piece of property on Northeast Sherman Road, Ripley to ConnectGen Chautauqua County, LLC for $54,000.

According to IDA Chief Financial Officer Rich Dixon, in 2022 the property was in the county’s tax auction. ConnectGen asked the county IDA to buy it so it could later use that land for the solar project.

“We’re selling it for the same exact amount that we bought it for,” Dixon said. “This will be integral to help them get their project up and running, which they hope to start construction in 2024.”

The sale was unanimously approved by the county IDA Board of Directors.

In January of 2022, the county IDA approved Payment In Lieu Of Tax incentives for the 270 megawatt solar project located in South Ripley. The agreement calls for 30-year payments to the town of Ripley, Chautauqua County, Ripley and Sherman school districts, and the Ripley Fire Department.

ConnectGen has been publicly working on the project since 2018. It is expected to cost around $348 million to construct.

The project also calls for a 20 megawatt battery energy storage component, although that part may not take place.

After the IDA meeting, The Post-Journal/OBSERVER reached out to outgoing Ripley Town Supervisor Doug Bowen for an update. “They’re hoping to start construction in ’24. Right now they’re waiting on the state, getting everything finalized,” he said.

Bowen said it’s the environmental studies that the state is still working on. He didn’t know how soon the state will be finished with its environmental studies and if construction will actually begin in 2024 or not.

One question that remains is the battery energy storage component. According to Bowen, the Ripley town zoning does not allow for energy storage. “The state waived that initially for this project but it appears that the BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) component is not as important to the project as it once was,” he said.

Because of that, Bowen said it is possible the developers may remove the battery storage component from its solar project proposal and reintroduce that at a later date or even go without it. “I think they want to get the solar panels constructed and get that operating and then they may come back and visit the BESS component,” he said.

Bowen’s term officially ended Dec. 31. During the interview, he said he was working with Donald Rice, who was elected supervisor in November, to ensure a smooth transition.

While Chautauqua County has approved dozens of smaller solar projects, this one requires state approval due to its size. Most solar projects in the county are around 5 megawatts, compared to this one which is more than 50 times as large.