Gloversville, New York - Eden Renewables hopes to get a step closer to its aim of bringing low cost community solar power to Gloversville following the next Common Council Meeting on Tuesday, October 27, 2020.

If the property of the former Pine Brook Golf Club, which has been vacant for many years, is rezoned for commercial use, the proposed development would be built on the site to produce clean energy for the community as well as a host of agricultural, ecological, environmental and educational benefits.

The community solar farm would  have a capacity of 7.5MWp - enough to power about 1,225 averaged-size homes. This is equivalent to planting 10,000 average-sized trees annually, which can absorb 310,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.

Local residents would be able to save 10% on their electricity bill, getting locally-generated clean power and priority subscription to the project. In New York, the average annual electricity bill is about $1,320. If 1,225 households subscribe, the city would save $132 per household per year, or $161,700 total annual community savings.

Eden’s Chief Development Officer Giovanni Maruca said, “We designed a project plan that puts the community of Gloversville at the heart of a development that could transform a vacant parcel of land into a community asset built to meet the challenges facing 21st century cities. Thus far, our project has taken into consideration feedback we received from the community and the Planning Board. We look forward to presenting our plan to the Common Council, and collaborating with them through the permitting process.”

The development will be rich in biodiversity, with wildflower meadows and native grasses creating habitats to help local bees and other pollinator species thrive. A site-specific 57 acre biodiversity management plan will be implemented to boost biodiversity and create pollinator-friendly habitats. Wildflower meadows will support 20-40 different plant species that produce nectar and pollen for bees and local pollinators, and nutritious food for livestock in the fall/winter. Bat and bird boxes will be mounted around the perimeter of the site to encourage bats to roost and birds to nest. Ecological surveys will be conducted annually to track and continuously improve the site.

Fruit orchards, wildflower meadows and beehives would provide pollination services to support local farmers and produce honey. One acre of flowering plants support an entire honey producing bee colony, which can produce 20-60 pounds of honey per year. Grants to provide capital investment for beekeeping equipment will be offered to a local beekeeper or farmer to establish bee colonies for honey production.

The site will be developed to create recreational use. There will be a mile-long walking trail, a dog park, a playground, horseshoe pits, bocce courts, picnic areas and outdoor fitness areas to enable residents to enjoy nature and the outdoors. Near the entrance will be a community garden that will produce fresh fruits and vegetables for residents. Fruit orchards will be accessible to the community, so residents can pick fruit at their leisure. Solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging stations will be installed in the parking lot.

The site will also be utilized as an educational resource for the community. Through the Eden-funded education program, local students will be able to learn beyond school grounds and gain knowledge and ‘hands on’ and ‘minds on’ experiences in STEM subjects. This program, designed for K-12 and meeting current New York State academic standards, will be offered throughout the year to supplement curriculums in a variety of subjects including Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, and English. Additionally, the Green STEM Scholarship, a component of the Eden Education program, will be awarding $1,000 to a graduating senior pursuing a career in fields that benefit the environment.

The proposed development carves out areas where sustainable residential housing can be developed based on the needs of the city, which can increase property value and further reduce carbon emissions. This  attracts new and existing environmentally-conscious residents to the City by providing an eco-village styled residential community surrounding the community solar farm.