PILOT Agreements, Battery Storage Discussed in Meetings with Dunkirk Schools

Officials with Dunkirk City Schools say they have a better idea of how the district could benefit from payment in lieu of tax (PILOT) agreements secured by local entities. During Tuesday's Board of Education meeting, Board President Ken Kozlowski (pictured) said he and two other district representatives met with City Assessor Erica Munson and the Chautauqua County IDA in recent weeks. Kozlowski says the meetings were very informative...

Ken Kozlowski: we have a lot of misconceptions

Superintendent Brian Swatland spoke more about those meetings as a guest on WDOE's "Viewpoint" program on Thursday. He says they also included a discussion about battery energy storage systems, which has been a hot topic within the city...

Brian Swatland: getting a better understanding

Swatland says the district would benefit financially from projects that come in with a PILOT. Regarding a BESS near a school, the district would have to examine its safety plans, which he says already account for potential hazards...

Brian Swatland: making sure safety plans are actionable

Gridi Development is proposing to construct a BESS near School 5. That process, however, has been put on hold due to a six-month moratorium recently passed by city lawmakers. Swatland added that the information from the meetings will help the district as it begins to prepare for next year's budget.

Click here to listen to the entire "Viewpoint" interview featuring Brian Swatland.

Photo by Greg Larson