Solar panels proposed at Cedar Creek

Under-utilized land at the Cedar Creek Water Treatment Plant could be used for a solar energy project. Nassau County is proposing to enter into a 20-year lease agreement with SunEdison Origination 1 to construct, operate and manage a three-megawatt solar energy project on 12.5 acres of land at the Water Treatment Plant, which abuts both Wantagh and Seaford.

The county would receive a lease payment of $105,000 per year. The land, owned by the Department of Public Works, is fallow. Vegetation at the far west side of the property would remain, keeping the facility out of sight from neighbors. The project would not affect the aerodrome facility or the park itself. A kiosk would be installed at the park to educate the public on the benefits of solar energy.

SunEdison is proposing to build a ground-mounted, fixed tilt photovoltaic system of 1,110 panels. The panels will be approximately 10 feet in height, said Sean Sallie, a Nassau County planner who spoke with residents at a meeting on Sept. 17 at Cedar Creek. Additionally, there would be two inverter structures that would convert the DC or Direct Current to AC or Alternating Current so that “it can feed into the public utility,” said Sallie, referring to PSEG Long Island, which would buy the power from SunEdison. PSEG Long Island operates the electric system owned by LIPA.

Although the county would not receive money based on the sale of energy, the county “has the right to increase the rent,” said Sallie. “If SunEdison doesn’t meet its revenue projects, that has no bearing on our lease payment. However, if they generate more than they anticipate, the county can receive a proportional increase in rent.”

Additionally, the county would receive a pro-rated development rent of $26,000 per year while the facility is being built.

Cedar Creek is well suited to accommodate solar energy because “it contains unobstructed year-round southern sky exposure, said Sallie and “is well buffered from surrounding land uses.”

In 2013, the county issued a Request for Proposals and received four bids for a green energy project. “SunEdison provided us with the most thorough, technical proposal and an understanding of the solar industry,” Sallie said. “They also offered the highest rent.” SunEdison is building a 10-megawatt solar project at the former Fresh Kills dump on Staten Island.

The Nassau County Open Space Committee and the Nassau County Planning Commission have reviewed the proposal, said Jane Houdek, an attorney from the DPW. The proposal was passed by Nassau County Legislature’s Rules and Finance Committee on Sept. 22. It will go before the full legislature for a vote, which could be as early as Oct. 6.

The project would take six months to build and could be up and running by the end of next spring, said Sallie. The three megawatts generated could power more than 2,000 homes.

Public reacts

“I don’t have a problem with the project,” said Wantagh resident Ralph Spagnolo, who worked for many years at the Cedar Creek Water Treatment facility. “It’s useless land and this is a renewable energy project.”

“The project looks good,” added Seaford resident Tom Gallagher. “But have they considered that this facility is on the water and that means lots of mist, dust, seagulls and bugs? And what about flooding?”

Sallie replied that the operator must maintain the facility to a certain standard. “They looked at this sight and they know their business,” he said. “The plant is not in the flood zone so there is no worry there.”

County Legislator David Denenberg said that while he supports the project, he has questions about the financial arrangements and wants to see “a labor agreement in place that protects local union workers.”

Mark Salerno, co-chairman of the Cedar Creek Oversight Committee, also liked the project. “Unless there is some downside that was not apparent, this seems like a worthwhile project,” he said. “Solar energy is clean, renewable energy. From what we are told, there is no upfront or ongoing cost to the county.

“But I was disappointed that there was not better notice to the public,” Salerno added, referring to the poor turnout at the open house. The county gave the public and the Herald 24 hours notice of this meeting.

“I requested an open house or a public meeting,” added Denenberg. “It’s been an ongoing problem at Cedar Creek. Meetings are not held, as they should be. The county has ignored the [Cedar Creek Oversight] committee even after they were promised quarterly meetings.” The last public meeting of the Cedar Creek Oversight Committee was held in September 2013.