Typeset from the PDF of the official document (read by OCR) — headings, motions and recorded votes are detected automatically, so spacing may differ from the original. The official copy governs.
Taft Solar LLC/SLH I, LLC
May 6, 2021 The Public Hearing of the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency, held on this day, Wednesday, May 6, 2021 via Zoom meeting #86023125337, or dial in at 1-929-436-2866 was called to order at 10:32 am by Public Hearing Officer Nancy Lowery.
ATTENDEES:
Nancy Lowery, Public Hearing Officer Karen Doster Tom Lorizzo Michael Cocquay The Public Hearing was conducted regarding the application and project described as follows: Taft Solar LLC/SLH I, LLC
Location: East Taft Road Town of Manlius Tax map no. 034.-01-20.1
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing pursuant to Section 859-a of the New York General Municipal Law will be held by the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency (the “Agency”).
Public Hearing Date and Time: May 6, 2021 at 10:30 A.M.
Public Hearing Location: Held via Zoom meeting: Meeting Number #86023125337, or dial in at 1- 929-436-2866 and enter meeting number.
For assistance or questions regarding the public hearing please contact the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency.
The public hearing is being held in connection with the following matter:
Taft Solar LLC, a Delaware limited liability company authorized to do business in the State of New York (the “Operating Company”) and SLH I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company authorized to do business in the State of New York (the “Real Estate Holding Company”) have submitted an application (the “Application”) on behalf of themselves and/or entities formed or to be formed on behalf of the foregoing, to the Agency, a copy of which Application is on file at the office of the Agency, which application requests that the Agency consider undertaking a project (the “Project”) for the benefit of the Operating Company, the Real Estate Holding Company, and/or entities formed or to be formed on their behalf, said Project consisting of the following: (A)(1) the acquisition of an interest in an approximately 38.54 acre parcel of land located on East Taft Road (tax map no. 034.-01-20.1) in the Town of Manlius, Onondaga County, New York (the “Land”); (2) the construction on the Land of an approximately 20 acre solar power electric generating photo- voltaic plant and DC coupled energy storage systems (the “Facility”); and (3) the acquisition and installation therein and thereon of related fixtures, machinery, equipment and other tangible personal property (collectively, the “Facility Equipment”) (the Land, the Facility and the Facility Equipment being collectively referred to as the “Company Project Facility”) such Company Project Facility to be leased and subleased by the Agency to the Real Estate Holding Company and further subleased by the Real Estate holding Company to the Operating Company; and (4) the acquisition and installation therein and thereon of related fixtures, machinery, equipment and other tangible personal property (collectively the “Equipment” and together with the Company Project Facility, the “Project Facility”); (B) the granting of certain “financial assistance” (within the meaning of Section 854(14) of the Act) with respect to the foregoing, including potential exemptions from certain sales and use taxes, real property taxes and real estate transfer taxes (subject to certain statutory limitations) (the “Financial Assistance”); and (C) the lease (with an obligation to purchase) or sale of the Company Project Facility to the Real Estate Holding Company or such other person as may be designated by the Real Estate Holding Company and agreed upon by the Agency and the lease (with an obligation to purchase) or sale of the Equipment to the Operating Company or such other person as may be designated by the Operating Company and agreed upon by the Agency. The Real Estate Holding Company will be the initial owner of the Project Facility and the Operating Company will be the initial operator of the Project Facility.
The Agency has not made a decision with respect to the undertaking of the Project or the granting of the Financial Assistance.
The Agency will at the above-stated time and place hear all persons with views in favor of or opposed to the Project and/or the Financial Assistance. A copy of the Application including a cost/benefit analysis is available at the office of the Agency for review by interested persons. This public hearing will be held by remote means, by Zoom meeting and telephone conference call, in accordance with the modifications to Article 7 of the Public Officers Law (the “Open Meetings Law”) as modified by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.1, as extended, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A copy of a recording of the hearing will be available on the Agency’s website.
Public Hearing Officer Lowery asked if anyone had any comments in favor of the proposed project. Tom Lorizzo asked what the megawatts of the project. Nancy Lowery stated 3.752 megawatts and asked Michael Cocquay if that was correct. Michael Cocquay stated that is correct and that is one of the changes that is putting them back in front for a public hearing. He stated they the entire project was interfering with wetlands and their goal is to avoid the wetlands. Nancy Lowery stated the project went from 5 megawatts to 3.7 megawatts. She stated they modified the project once they got a better sense of what the property was.
Tom Lorizzo asked if they plan on using local labor. Nancy Lowery stated yes and it is part of the application. She stated there is a local labor policy where they have to use within the 10 surrounding counties. She stated it is in the application and the counties are listed they need to pull from.
Tom Lorizzo asked if he can request the developer if they do not meet their man power needs that they contact the carpenters union as they will supplement their workforce. Nancy Lowery stated she can take this comment and make it publically known to the Board that this is a request coming from the Carpenter’s Union so that would be the way that we would bring that the attention of the Board. She stated if they cannot find labor that they would come to the Carpenter’s Union for assistance with that. Tom Lorizzo agreed and stated he will put his contact in the chat box. Nancy Lowery asked Tom Lorizzo to send it the Agency. She stated she believes on the application it states Nate Stevens but that is fine because Nate will give it to her and will be able to get that to the Board meeting next week.
Public Hearing Officer Lowery then asked if anyone wanted to speak in opposition to the proposed project. There were none.
Public Hearing Officer Lowery then asked if anyone wanted to make any general comments about the proposed project. Tom Lorizzo stated he wishes good luck on the project.
The Public Hearing Officer also noted no written comments had been received as of May 6, 2021. Comments are kept on file and available for public viewing at 333 West Washington Street, Suite 130, Syracuse, New York.
The notice for Public Hearing has been read. The opportunity for comments for and against the proposed project has been noted. There being no further business, Public Hearing Officer Lowery closed the hearing at 10:42 a.m.
By: Nene, a
’ Nancy Lowery, POblic Hearing Officgf