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West Hill Solar Project Moves Forward

A West Hill solar project took an important step forward on January 10 when it was awarded an estimated tax break of $461,241 by the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (IDA).

The project, known as Carrowmoor Solar, is being developed by Nexamp, the largest asset holder of community solar projects in New York State, with over 100 solar developments to its name. Nexamp is owned by Mitsubishi through its subsidiary company, Diamond Generating Corporation.

The bulk of the tax break comes in the form of sales tax exemptions. Nexamp will save an estimated $432,964 in local sales taxes, and $28,277 in local property taxes. The total tax break will be realized over the next 25 years.



Carrowmoor Solar will generate 5MWac, and encompass 25 acres of a 39-acre parcel with solar panels at 1340 Mecklenburg Road in the Town of Ithaca. The electricity generated will be sold directly to NYSEG.

The solar project will increase the value of the 39-acre lot, which is now used for agriculture, from $78,346 to an estimated $921,018 after the solar field is developed, according to an analysis from Ithaca Area Economic Development.

The increase in property value is estimated to generate an additional $563,351 in property taxes over the next 25 years.

The tax break for the Carrowmoor Solar Project was unanimously approved by the IDA’s seven-member board of directors. The IDA holds the authority to grant tax breaks to developers in the name of local economic development, but the board is supposed to determine if the break is necessary for the project to be completed.

Nearly $1 million was poured into infrastructure for Carrowmoor Solar and $100,000 into soft costs, according to Nexamp’s application to the IDA. Nexamp said the project has an estimated development cost of $11.8 million, Carrowmoor Solar.

IDA Chair Rich John, who is also a Tompkins County Legislator, told The Ithaca Voice prior to Wednesday’s vote that he intended to support the abatement.

He noted there is a precedent that the IDA has set with awarding solar projects tax abatements in the past, which motivated his decision to approve the project.

“There’s a fairness issue here in that we have given the same incentive to each of the solar panel projects in the county,” John said.

John said that based on the financial analysis provided to the IDA by Ithaca Area Economic Development — a non-profit corporation which Tompkins County contracts with to administer the IDA — Carrowmoor Solar appears to need the abatement in order to be make the financial numbers work.

“My understanding is that this will turn the corner to making it financially viable, ” John said.

Nexamp is expected to break ground on Carrowmoor sometime in 2024, according to its application to the IDA.

- Jimmy Jordan, Ithaca Voice, 1/12/24

News and Events

Heat Pumps for Homeowners Webinar

If you’ve been thinking about buying heat pumps, adding insulation, or reducing your utility bill, there's an upcoming webinar just for you!

This online webinar is geared towards homeowners in Tompkins County and is hosted by the Energy & Climate Change Team at Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County.



The webinar will provide a beginner-friendly overview of the steps to tighten up your home and move to sustainable heating sources. We’ll also dive into some of the rebates and incentives that can help pay for these upgrades!

This event is free and open to all.

When: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 6:00-7:00 pm

Where:On Zoom. Please register here.



Next TCCPI Meeting

Friday, March 29, 2024
9:00 - 11:00 am
The monthly TCCPI meetings have moved online. For Zoom info, contact Peter Bardaglio, the TCCPI coordinator, for further details at pbardaglio@gmail.com.

If you have any issues you would like to bring to the TCCPI monthly meetings, please e-mail us at info@tccpi.org. General meetings are on the last Friday of every month, except for November and December. Because of the holidays, the November-December meeting is held on the second Friday of December.

The Ithaca 2030 District




Visit TCCPI's latest project, the Ithaca 2030 District, an interdisciplinary public-private collaboration working to create a groundbreaking high-performance building district in Downtown Ithaca.

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