Public Forum video excerpts
The Town of Rochester Democratic Committee hosted a three hour Public Forum to discuss the Community Solar Project on Sunday, January 28.
Panel members included town supervisor Mike Baden, Solarize Hudson Valley program manager John Wackman, and Borrego project developer Emilie Flanagan. The forum was moderated by John Lutz.
John Wackman explains the educational role of Solarize Hudson Valley and how the organization helps towns figure out if community solar is right for them and how towns can implement community solar programs. John also explains private versus community solar as well as the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority's (NYSERDA) 2030 statewide solar goals.
Any open land can hold solar panels, but only those within the right distance from a three-phase substation can connect to 'the grid' and put that energy on the market.
The expense of adapting to the landfill's regulations AND the grading of surrounding slopes made development costs too expensive to offer Rochester decent revenue. This was the consensus of both the Town Board and Borrego Solar. The neighboring parcel was chosen instead for Site #2.
The decision to take trees on the Airport Road site was given careful consideration. The carbon offset which will result from clean energy production at the Airport Road site will be the equivalent of planting over 6,000 acres of forest---it is a huge win environmentally. The solar farms will establish 54 acres of grassland habitat. Our solar meadows will rehabilitate butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Grassland species suffer in our local area where deer decimate ground cover.
Department of Environmental Conservation studies were done for both solar sites. Our Town's Environmental Conservation Council strongly supports the Community Solar Project.
The Marbletown Environmental Conservation Commission (ECC) also closely reviewed the projects' environmental impact and strongly support our Town's solar initiative, including the cutting of 27 acres of trees. You can read the Marbletown ECC statement of support here.
Town of Rochester residential users will have the first opportunity to subscribe to the Community Solar Farms for a discounted rate of 10% off the market price of electricity. This is opt-in and will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. The dates for enrollment opportunities will be publicized prominently in all papers and online.
Assuming the leases are approved on Tuesday, there will be ample opportunities for owners of land boarding the solar farm sites to have public input at the Planning Board level. Issues such as screening, construction schedules, and any other mitigations will be addressed in each unique case.