Authorities discuss solar farm project at Love Canal

Property at Love Canal has been discussed as a potential site for a solar farm.

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) - NYSERDA and the City of Niagara Falls are in preliminary discussions for a large-scale solar farm on 16 acres of Love Canal, the location of one of the country's worst environmental disasters.

The city agreed to a memorandum of understanding with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in April to discuss and study the viability of properties for renewable energy projects. The Love Canal proposal was not mentioned when the agreement was announced.

The Niagara-Gazette first reported the proposal.

NYSERDA's Build Ready program works with local communities to explore potential properties for projects that could reduce greenhouse gases. A focus is on making "difficult sites" build ready.

Elected officials, residents and businesses can nominate properties for consideration.

The Niagara Gazette reported that Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino proposed the Love Canal site for a renewable energy project. It is unclear if NYSERDA and Restaino's administration mentioned other sites. The mayor could not immediately be reached for comment.

The proposed project is called the Vincent Welch Solar Project. A public meeting for the proposal was held in late May.

If the property is deemed safe for development, NYSERDA would design and engineer the project as if it were a private developer. The agency can negotiate tax breaks and legally binding agreements with the community for projects that improve quality of life for residents.

Then, NYSERDA would auction off the site to a private developer, who could begin the construction. Sources told News 4 Investigates the process could take years to complete.

While a NYSERDA spokesperson provided details about the proposal to the Niagara Gazette, the agency refused to answer specific questions from News 4 Investigates.

A NYSERDA spokesperson told the Niagara Gazette that the proposed location is west of the fenced off and capped section of Love Canal, between 93rd and 95th streets. The spokesperson told the newspaper that early plans look at a system that does not "need posts or post holes to be held in place."

The spokesperson also said these renewable energy projects are designed for contaminated properties, such as brownfields, defunct industrial sites, and other contaminated properties like Love Canal.

This is the second proposal under review in Niagara County for a solar farm on contaminated property.

NYSERDA signed an MOU in late June with the Town of Wheatfield and Niagara County to discuss a solar farm project for 60-acres on the Witmer Road Landfill.

The Witmer Road Landfill was in operation from 1969 through 1976.

A feasibility assessment will determine if the property can be reused for a renewable energy project.