Broome County officials say a NYSEG rate proposal for electricity generated by the new Conklin solar farm would have turned the project into a money-losing proposition.

Construction on the project was completed last summer. But NYSEG's initial plan to pay for power from the site would have wound up costing the county money.

Public works commissioner Leslie Boulton advised county lawmakers that the tactic was being used by NYSEG for several projects across the state.

When the solar project was announced by then-county executive Debra Preston in 2016, it was suggested it could save taxpayers more than $250,000 a year. It was expected to become operational last spring.

Boulton said state agencies eventually managed to resolve the rate issue with NYSEG so the county will gain some net savings from the solar farm.

NYSEG has not commented on why its initial rate proposal would have resulted in the county losing money by connecting the solar array to the grid.

Broome County executive Jason Garnar has said he expects the solar farm finally could be put into operation by the end of this month.

Garnar doesn't know how much money the county ultimately might save with the solar operation but he has suggested the amount is going to be less than what had been promised.

Equipment at the recently-constructed solar farm in the town of Conklin on February 1, 2018. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
Equipment at the recently-constructed solar farm in the town of Conklin on February 1, 2018. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

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