Public Hearing For Proposed Local Laws on Solar & Battery Energy Storage in Cortlandville Announced

The Town of Cortlandville will hold two public hearings for two proposed local laws in relation to Solar Energy Systems and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) respectively. The two hearings will be held on Wednesday, March 4 at 5:30 p.m. at the Raymond G. Thorpe Municipal Building.

Both proposed local laws look to amend the town’s current regulations for solar energy systems (mainly solar fields) and battery energy storage systems. The proposed laws come following tireless efforts by the Solar Energy and BESS Committee, who also faced a tight timeline to have both laws ready for implementation within the town’s 6-month moratorium. Both the Cortlandville Town Board and Planning Board have commended the detailed work the committee has done for the two proposed local laws.

Each of the proposed laws are extensive and look to tighten up regulations pertaining to solar development and the growing popularity of battery energy storage systems with solar fields. Overall, the committee drafted over 70 pages for both proposed local laws. The entirety of each law can be found through the town’s website, Cortlandville.gov.

Cortlandville implemented a 6-month moratorium for any and all solar development back in October 2025. The town made the move following dozens of residents’ concerns of the number of solar energy projects being submitted to the town for approvals, especially in the area of Carr Hill Road. The moratorium gave the town and its committee time to study and analyze multiple considerations relating to the local impacts of the siting, construction and operation of solar energy systems and then time to draft and implement legislation relative to the compatible zoning of such uses and the development of the solar projects.

The last time the town amended their zoning laws relating to solar energy projects was back in 2022 and since then, technology, development, and number of solar energy projects has changed and grown.

Cortlandville says copies are also available in the Town Clerk’s Office for the public by request as well as adjoining municipalities including Homer, McGraw, Cortland, Dryden, and Groton.