Solar power developer to host open house today about the 36 MW facility it plans for 275 acres of ag lands in Calverton

sPower, the Utah-based solar power company operating a solar energy facility on Edwards Avenue is holding two public information meetings today in Riverhead to discuss its plans for another proposed additional solar facility in Calverton.

The “Riverhead Solar 2” project is a proposed 36 MW photovoltaic solar facility on approximately 275 acres of mostly agricultural lands. The new facility is located north and west of sPower’s existing solar facilities on Edwards Avenue as well as another solar facility, “Riverhead Solar 1,” which sPower is also developing.

“Riverhead Solar 2” is expected to generate approximately 72,345 MWh of energy for year one of operation, according to documents filed by the applicant with the N.Y. Department of Public Service. This will be enough electricity to meet the average annual consumption of over 8,500 New York households, based on average annual electric consumption of 8.48 MWh for New York State, according to the applicant.

The public informational meetings will take place today in two sessions, from 1 to 3 p.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Residence Inn located at 2012 Old Country Road. In these open-house style meetings, company representatives will explain the project’s details, answer questions and receive public comment, the company said.

The N.Y. Department of Public Service docket for this application may be accessed here.

Attorneys for sPower have announced that the solar energy company is also interested in purchasing the town’s acreage inside the Calverton Enterprise Park should plans to sell the site to Calverton Aviation and Technology, a company owned by real estate developer Triple Five and aerospace startup Luminati Aerospace, fall through. sPower brought a legal action in an attempt to block that sale, but subsequently withdrew the lawsuit.