The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

Peru – The process has taken longer than anticipated. Still, if progress continues as hoped, the Hamilson Community Solar Farm will be functioning at 286 Mannix Rd. by the end of next year. Unlike traditional solar, where an array is installed on your roof or property, community solar is installed at an offsite location. People can subscribe to the community solar project and receive credits on their electric bill for the clean energy produced. Everyone, including renters and co-op/condo owners, is eligible. A ten percent savings on electricity cost (not electricity delivery) is typical of most community solar projects.

The Hamilton family is the project co-developer. The family’s first thought was to develop the project themselves; however, they quickly discovered it made sense to work with a party familiar with solar farm financing, regulatory requirements, and construction. The result is that the Sunvestment Group, Apex Energy, and RER EnergyGroup are co-developers.

Family spokesman Mark Hamilton commented, “A few years ago, a solar farm developer approached us. We were intrigued by the idea, but we didn’t want to lose control of the land.” We’re doing this because we think it’s the right thing to do with the land, a good thing for the community and the environment. It’s smaller than most solar farms, but I’m not sure our community would support a solar farm twice the size as this one in such a visible area. We want to be good neighbors. It sits lower than the road. It’s not going to block any sight lines.”

The 2.6-megawatt farm will be located on 12.5 acres, a few hundred yards east of the Hamilton Funeral Home, on land that wasn’t part of the orchard. It’s one-half the size of most farms; nevertheless, an estimated 400 to 450 homes and one or two businesses in Clinton County and parts of Essex and Franklin counties will be eligible to subscribe.

Hamilton emphasized that the solar project is unrelated to the recent removal of the large orchard surrounding the funeral home. He explained. “We leased the orchard to a local orchard for the past 40+ years, but they notified us that they didn’t want to maintain it any longer. Leaving the trees unattended could have resulted in blight and insect infestation that could have affected neighboring crops.” A local farmer is leasing the land for field crops for the foreseeable future.

Project Site Plan

hamilton-environmental-assessment-document-package-for-submission-updated-6272023.pdf