Town of Hounsfield - Sapphire Solar Photovoltaic Project

Negative Declaration

Jefferson County - The Town of Hounsfield Planning Board, as lead agency, has determined that the proposed Sapphire Solar Photovoltaic Project will not have a significant adverse environmental impact. The action involves the proposed 2.4-megawatt (MW) alternating current (ac) solar photovoltaic (PV) facility to be constructed on tax parcel number 89.00-2-4.1 (parcel acreage of 267.28 acres). The Project has a 24.82-acre limit of disturbance, which is the proposed lease area. The operating area is comprised of 18.15 acres, inclusive of the fenced area and access roads (outside the fenced area). Access to the Project will be via a proposed access road that will be constructed from State Route 3. The Project consists of twelve 54 module (2-string) trackers and sixty-nine 81 module (3-string) trackers (total of 6,237 modules) that swivel up to 50 degrees. Sixteen 150-kilowatt (kW) inverters centralized near the transformer on one block, one transformer, one switchboard and one meteorological evaluation tower (MET) station are also included. The perimeter of the solar facility will be enclosed via a 7-foot fence. The Project will provide emission-free electricity to the existing electric grid operated by National Grid and offer community subscribers the opportunity to receive a bill credit from National Grid. The project is located on 19172 County Route 66, in the Town of Hounsfield, New York.