An interesting and previously unheard of concept for the Cortland area for green energy was presented to the Cortlandville Planning Board during their meeting on Tuesday. Third Pillar Solar, operating under Crown City Solar in Cortland, proposes to build three floating solar fields on the water-filled quarry in Polkville.
The quarry, owned by Suit-Kote, would lease the water and small land area to Crown City Solar to construct three floating solar fields that would create 14.5 Megawatt AC combined. Unlike most solar projects, which are developed then sold off, Third Pillar Solar would construct and continue to operate them. There will not be any battery storage for this project.
The quarry currently does not allow any type of fishing or recreational activity. This makes it ideal for the addition of solar panels on what would otherwise be an unused area. The floating solar fields would be anchored on the quarry floor. Developers for the project say the panels would be able to withstand winds up to 150 mph and can handle a significant amount of snow/ice load during the winter months, adding they have cold-weather tested the floating panels in Colorado for a different project. Developers have already been in contact with National Grid, who say their current infrastructure can handle the added power to the grid.
