Finding Common Ground on Renewable Energy Projects

Local Perspectives

Finding Common Ground on Renewable Energy Projects

by Jeanne E. Mettler, Copake Town Supervisor

In early 2020, a Chicago based corporation by the name of Hecate Energy came to the Town of Copake in Columbia County, to announce their intention to build a 60 MW solar project. The proposed site was to be comprised of three noncontiguous areas totaling over 700 acres.

Over the last 21 months, Hecate has reduced the size of the project to 245 acres, but have not reduced the MWs and their plan still calls for the sacrifice of Prime Farmland to build the project.

The overwhelming majority of Copake residents oppose the project in its current size and as it is currently sited.

Early in September, Catherine Rampell of the Washington Post tweeted an article from the Register Star about the solar debate in Copake. Her tweet included a quote from me, “The existential threat of climate change is real. However, New York State cannot fail rural communities, ignore home rule and erase natural resources and precious farmland with the current rubberstamp renewable energy siting process. Environmental impact should be weighed when looking to save the environment. Both the Town Board and the Columbia County Board of Supervisors have been unanimous in opposing the Hecate project as currently proposed. I am happy to stand with rural Towns across the State in challenging these regulations."

A few moments after their tweet was posted, I received an email from someone named Doug. Doug wrote: “Just wanted to commend your fantastic work crafting an epitaph for humanity's gravestone. ‘The existential threat of climate change is real,' however, really says it all.”

The Town of Copake has said again and again that Copake is not opposed to a solar installation. It is the magnitude of the project, as well the proposed location directly in front of residential areas, without any effort at adequate shielding, that makes the project unpalatable.

Both sides of this debate acknowledge the threat of climate change. But we are suing the state because the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) would allow a 245 acre industrial site in Copake without State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) review. The other side says “There’s a war on. We cannot worry about your viewsheds or local laws or SEQRA or home rule. Everyone has to do their part.”

This country has a long history of extreme measures because “there is a war on”. There was a war on and we thought it was ok to intern the Japanese. There was a war on Communism and we lived through McCarthyism.. There was a war on drugs and we passed the Rockefeller laws and locked up two-bit players for life.

We are suing New York State because they did not take the time and care to pass laws and regulations which would allow renewable energy but also balance the very real concerns of rural communities like Copake.

Someplace between these two well-intentioned sides of the solar debate there is a narrow strip of no-man’s land where there could be compromise. There could be a solution if New York State paused long enough to pass legislation and regulations which would address climate change in a way which does not put the entire burden on small rural towns that are unlucky enough to host a substation. Every single law and regulation in NY favors corporate interests. If corporate developers were mandated to actually work to protect local resources and address community concerns we might find a solution. When will New York State step up to do the hard work?

Copake calls upon the State to pass a law which would honor home rule, balance the obligation to confront climate change among all the counties of the State, and require community input. Then indeed, we may move forward to battle the most significant challenge of our lifetime.

NYSAC Thanks Our 2021 Fall Seminar Sponsors & Exhibitors for Their Support and Participation This Year!

SPECIAL EVENT SPONSORS

Absolute Auctions & Realty, Inc. Aetna AT&T Auctions International Inc. Bank of America Barton & Loguidice CHA eBizDocs Enterprise Fleet Management Google Cloud LaBella Associates, D.P.C. Municipal Electric and Gas Alliance, Inc. NYMIR PERMA PKF O'Connor Davies Siemens Industry, Inc. Weedmaps

CORPORATE SPONSORS

IEM ProAct, Inc. SMRT Architects and Engineers

GOLD SPONSORS

Alliance for Clean Energy NY Dominion Voting Systems GTL JPMorgan Kofile Motorola Solutions, Inc. National Association of Counties NORESCO NYSTEC OneGroup PayIt Roosevelt & Cross Incorporated Salesforce US Employee Benefits Services Group Wendel WSP USA

SILVER SPONSORS

Axon Bolton St. Johns Bonadio & Co., LLP C&S Companies Centrica Business Solutions EA Engineering, P.C. Epson Equitable Geospatial Analytics Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company Haylor, Freyer & Coon Herkimer Industries LeChase Construction Services, LLC Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association McFarland Johnson, Inc. Microsoft Nationwide NYCLASS P3 Cost Analysts Park Strategies LLC Philips Lytle LLP Resultant ReWire Energy RTO Wireless, LLC Systems East, Inc. UTC Associates Venesky & Company WINFERTILITY

EXHIBITORS

Absolute Auctions & Realty, Inc. Alera Group Auctions International Inc. Capital Region BOCES Centrica Business Solutions CFG Health Systems, LLC CGR Colliers Engineering & Design CommercePayments Crowne Plaza Albany The Desmond Hotel Fiscal Advisors & Marketing, Inc. Fortinet GovDeals GovQA Health Economics Group, Inc. Hunt Engineers, Architects & Surveyors IEM LaBella Associates Municipal Electric and Gas Alliance, Inc. N.K. Bhandari, Architecture & Engineering, P.C. National Association of Counties New York Power Authority NYMIR NYS & Local Retirement System NYSID NYSPSP PERMA ProAct, Inc. Roemer Wallens Gold & Mineaux LLP Rubrik SMRT Architects and Engineers SWBR three+one UnitedHealthcare Retiree Solutions VMC Consultants Inc.

Counties Advance Resolutions Setting the Groundwork for 2022 Advocacy

County delegates from across the state convened to formally adopt the 2022 Fall Seminar resolutions, setting the groundwork for the Association’s 2022 legislative program and priorities. These 36 resolutions, which were advanced by the 11 NYSAC policy standing committees along with the NYSAC Board of Directors, include proposals to fix the diversion of county sales tax revenue to pay for state programs; advance the deployment of broadband across New York State; resolve disputes between the Indian Nations to ensure county revenue is stabilized; and make technical changes to the way counties build and improve road infrastructure.

You can find the full slate of resolutions at nysac.org/resolutions.

We thank our standing committee chairs, vice-chairs, and members for taking the time to debate, amend, and ultimately pass these resolutions through the standing committee adoption process during the conference.

Congratulations CGI Graduates!

This year, 9 county officials were honored at the Fall Seminar for upholding the pillars of leadership, accountability, and integrity during a graduation ceremony for the County Government Institute. Join us in congratulating this year’s graduating class

• Hon. Renee Cole, Treasurer, St. Lawrence County

• Ruth A. Doyle, Administrator, St. Lawrence County

• Hon. Beau Harbin, Legislator, Cortland County

• Hon. W. Brooke Harris, Legislator, Allegany County

• Hon. Beth Hunt, Treasurer, Hamilton County

• Hon. Mark Margeson, Legislator, Chemung County

• Hon. Terri Ross, Treasurer, Allegany County

• Hon. Rachel E. Seeber, Chairwoman, Warren County

• Halle Stevens, Finance Director, Seneca County

CONFERENCE SNAPSHOTS

Registration desk at the 2021 Fall Seminar. Luncheon in the ballroom of the Downtown Syracuse Marriot Hotel. NYSAC President Martha Sauerbrey, Immediate Past President Jack Marren and Executive Director Stephen Aqcuario