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

Tonight at 5:30 p.m. at the Raymond G. Thorpe Municipal Building in the Town of Cortlandville will have two public hearings for two proposed local laws in relation to Solar Energy Systems and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) respectively.

Both proposed local laws look to amend the town’s current regulations for solar energy systems (mainly solar fields) and battery energy storage systems. 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.

Cortlandville implemented a 6-month moratorium for any and all solar development back in October 2025. Since then, the Solar Energy and BESS Committee have worked non-stop to have both draft laws ready for a public hearing and possible vote by the Town Board. The committee studied and analyzed multiple considerations relating to the local impacts of the siting, construction and operation of solar energy systems.

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.

Both draft laws in their entirety are available online at Cortlandville.gov or at the Town Clerk’s Office via request. Copies are also available at neighboring municipalities including: Homer, McGraw, Cortland, Dryden, and Groton.