Norbut Solar removes battery component, trims panels; board approves with one abstention

Norbut Solar representatives told the board that the previously approved solar array remains sized to interconnect at 5 megawatts but will drop the battery storage portion and remove roughly 10% of panels—about 1,200 panels—from the earlier plan.

"We can only produce 5 megawatts to the grid and anything beyond that is no longer necessary for this project as the battery storage component has been removed," Victor Ciaccia said, explaining the reduction. Applicants further reported that about 9.5 acres of Mineral Soil Group 2 would be used and that the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets determined the change would not negatively impact the parcel's total acreage (roughly 60 acres). The board approved both the special permit and the site-plan amendment; Patricia Marini abstained on both votes (Ayes 10, Nays 0, Abstention 1).

The record notes the SWIP was adjusted to match the revised array size. No county-level mitigation was required as part of the amendment approvals.