Essex holds off on temporary solar moratorium

ESSEX | After last week's public hearing, town officials held off on approving a proposed law that aims to halt the development of proposed solar projects temporarily. Town officials tabled the approval of this temporary moratorium on major solar energy systems and battery energy storage systems to seek further clarification and make modifications based on the feedback received from residents and stakeholders. Over 10 residents and local stakeholders attended, including local resident Adam Perry, who was against passing the moratorium. "I'm opposed to any moratorium on telling somebody what they can and cannot do with their land, taking an opportunity away from people who may benefit from it," he stated during the public hearing. "We pay taxes every year, so the landlord should get the final say on what can and cannot be done on their own land, not the town." A few residents asked for specific clarifications to the moratorium, including what the size limitation is to be considered as a "major" farm and the overall language of the law itself. The modified law will be brought back for a vote again next month. "We've been sitting on this for a while, and it really needs to move forward," said attendee Elaine Jordan during the public hearing. "I support a moratorium for major solar power, which I supported back in February when it wasn't passed." This is the second attempt to get the moratorium passed. The first attempt took place in March. "I introduced the law, and there was a lot of pushback back then," Supervisor Ken Hughes stressed about the law he drafted himself, drawing inspiration from a similar law from the Town of Westerlo in Albany County. "Clearly, the timing was not right. I was not seeking to cause great consternation in the community; I was trying to respond to a situation that already existed with the commercial solar farm that's in the process of being built now." Currently, Community Power Group of Washington, D.C., is spearheading solar field development on Hickory Hill, just west of the hamlet on the south side of Route 22, that will be able to generate enough power for 600 to 800 homes once complete. Known as a "community solar project," power users served by NYSEG will be able to indirectly tap into the energy produced by the array in exchange for a 5% to 10% discount on their bills. "I believe some people in the town were upset that the moratorium didn't stop this project," Hughes said about the project that started about three years ago. "But the point of this moratorium was to put a pause on other potential projects temporarily, at least until the comprehensive plan is complete." Part of the comprehensive plan aims to evaluate and amend their zoning and local laws related to these uses, determining where exactly solar energy can be produced and where it shouldn't be developed. "In some areas, you see solar farms all over the place, these massive fields of just glass. If that's what they want, good for them. But I personally don't want that for Essex," Hughes said. "However, I'm just one person, and just because I'm a supervisor, it doesn't mean I get my way. I want to know what the people think and want for the town, too." A public workshop for the comprehensive plan is scheduled for Aug. 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the CFES Brilliant Pathways room behind the Essex Post Office. For more information or updates, visit essexny.com.

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Essex holds off on temporary solar moratorium

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