Largest Community Solar Array in NYS When Built: Town of ... · In 2014, Delaware resident Rich...

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Largest Community Solar Array in NYS When Built: Town of Delaware in Sullivan County When Ed Sykes, Supervisor of the Town of Delaware in Sullivan County, first heard of a way to help town residents save money and possibly even generate income that could save their farms, he paid attention. Four years later, the largest community solar array then possible in New York State was completed in the town’s hamlet of Callicoon, to supply 2 megawatts of AC (2.7 MW of DC) power from nearly 10,000 solar panels. Besides its economic benefits, the Baer Solar Farm will help move NYS closer to its ultimate goal of 100% renewable energy, critical in the race to cut greenhouse gas emissions and hold the line on climate change. The Town of Delaware is a picturesque community with rolling hills that offer panoramic views of the Delaware River, which separates it from neighboring Pennsylvania. With a population of 2700, it is an agricultural area, though today only a few of its originally more than 100 dairy farms have survived. The two largest employers in the town are Villa Roma Country Club resort hotel and conference center and the Delaware Valley Job Corps Center. In 2014, Delaware resident Rich Winter came to Delaware’s Planning Board with a proposal to build a community solar array. Community solar projects are remotely sited installations that allow residents who are not able to install solar panels for various reasons to subscribe to the energy generated as if the solar panels were installed on their homes. Subscribers receive credits and discounts on their electricity bills, yet do not have to pay any upfront costs or fees to install and maintain equipment. Supervisor Sykes met with his Town Board and his Planning Board to consider the idea and to craft a new Commercial Solar Law . The town held four public workshops, each followed by open hearings for community input. A special use permit was issued by the Planning Board. Meanwhile, 2015 also saw Winter create Delaware River Solar (DRS) to develop, build and manage community solar projects. Its first project, the Baer Road Project, was unanimously approved by the Town of Delaware in February, 2017, after DRS re-engineered its initial plans three times in response to residents’ concerns, mostly about visual impacts. The company planted a buffer to protect the view- shed, limited construction work hours, buried transmission lines, and agreed not to use pesticides or herbicides on the grass around the panels or chemicals to clean them. Because of the plentiful amount of open land, no trees had to be clear cut to build the array. The Baer Solar Farm was completed in 2018. DRS received nearly $1.3 million in funding through the NY-Sun Initiative towards the approximately $3.5 million to $5 million cost of the array. Attorney Walter Garigliano, Executive Director Jennifer Flad and Member Carol Roig of the Sullivan County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) provided support for the town in developing a payment in lieu of taxes ( P ILOT) plan, a state provision for a town to derive a financial benefit based on a project’s revenue rather than a property tax assessment, as an alternative to the town’s losing income due to the property tax exemption the developer got from NYS. Town residents, therefore, did not have to lay out any money for the project since it is owned by DRS, yet they benefit from PILOT income and from a 10% community solar contract savings that applies to all subscribers, both residents and the municipality. In addition, in developing community solar projects statewide, DRS has approached landowners with above market price offers to lease or purchase land with a flat, southerly exposure. Roughly 70% of the

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Page 1: Largest Community Solar Array in NYS When Built: Town of ... · In 2014, Delaware resident Rich Winter came to Delaware’s Planning Board with a proposal to build a community solar

Largest Community Solar Array in NYS When Built: Town of Delaware in Sullivan County

When Ed Sykes, Supervisor of the Town of Delaware in Sullivan County, first heard of a way to help town residents save money and possibly even generate income that could save their farms, he paid attention. Four years later, the largest community solar array then possible in New York State was completed in the town’s hamlet of Callicoon, to supply 2 megawatts of AC (2.7 MW of DC) power from nearly 10,000 solar panels. Besides its economic benefits, the Baer Solar Farm will help move NYS closer to its ultimate goal of 100% renewable energy, critical in the race to cut greenhouse gas emissions and hold the line on climate change.

The Town of Delaware is a picturesque community with rolling hills that offer panoramic views of the Delaware River, which separates it from neighboring Pennsylvania. With a population of 2700, it is an agricultural area, though today only a few of its originally more than 100 dairy farms have survived. The two largest employers in the town are Villa Roma Country Club resort hotel and conference center and the Delaware Valley Job Corps Center.

In 2014, Delaware resident Rich Winter came to Delaware’s Planning Board with a proposal to build a community solar array. Community solar projects are remotely sited installations that allow residents who are not able to install solar panels for various reasons to subscribe to the energy generated as if the solar panels were installed on their homes. Subscribers receive credits and discounts on their electricity bills, yet do not have to pay any upfront costs or fees to install and maintain equipment.

Supervisor Sykes met with his Town Board and his Planning Board to consider the idea and to craft a new Commercial Solar Law. The town held four public workshops, each followed by open hearings forcommunity input. A special use permit was issued by the Planning Board.

Meanwhile, 2015 also saw Winter create Delaware River Solar (DRS) to develop, build and manage community solar projects. Its first project, the Baer Road Project, was unanimously approved by the Town of Delaware in February, 2017, after DRS re-engineered its initial plans three times in response to residents’ concerns, mostly about visual impacts. The company planted a buffer to protect the view-shed, limited construction work hours, buried transmission lines, and agreed not to use pesticides or herbicides on the grass around the panels or chemicals to clean them. Because of the plentiful amount of open land, no trees had to be clear cut to build the array. The Baer Solar Farm was completed in 2018.

DRS received nearly $1.3 million in funding through the NY-Sun Initiative towards the approximately $3.5 million to $5 million cost of the array. Attorney Walter Garigliano, Executive Director Jennifer Flad and Member Carol Roig of the Sullivan County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) providedsupport for the town in developing a payment in lieu of taxes ( P ILOT) plan, a state provision for a town to derive a financial benefit based on a project’s revenue rather than a property tax assessment, as an alternative to the town’s losing income due to the property tax exemption the developer got from NYS.

Town residents, therefore, did not have to lay out any money for the project since it is owned by DRS, yet they benefit from PILOT income and from a 10% community solar contract savings that applies to all subscribers, both residents and the municipality.

In addition, in developing community solar projects statewide, DRS has approached landowners with above market price offers to lease or purchase land with a flat, southerly exposure. Roughly 70% of the

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sites they use are leased; 30% are purchased. Leasing is a farm diversification strategy that may provide struggling farmers with a new revenue stream from a portion of their land so they can continue farming or enjoy retirement, while helping the community reduce its carbon footprint.

The project created 3-4 permanent jobs plus a number of additional short-term six-month jobs for construction and electrical workers.

Ed Sykes offers some practical advice for other municipal leaders considering similar projects:● Give your Planning Board some autonomy.● Make your commercial solar law simple and minimize restrictions that could lead to objections.● Access the resources of the IDA in developing a fair value for the PILOT. Both NYSERDA and

IDA have data and spreadsheet tools to assist in determining the optimum balance between the interests of a town for income and a developer for a reasonable incentive to build the project.

● If you wish to learn more about the Town of Delaware’s experience as you develop your municipality’s plans, contact us at [email protected] or (845) 887-5250 ext. 1.

According to Governor Cuomo’s announcement when the array was completed in March, 2018, this project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1,670 metric tons annually, the equivalent to taking approximately 360 cars off the road.1

Not bad for a project that also provides income for the town, a discount on residents’ electric bills, and a way to generate individual income for residents from leases!

For more information contact Supervisor Ed Sykes at [email protected] or (845) 887-5250 ext. 1.

“I’m convinced solar is coming, and sticking your head in the sand makes no sense.” Ed Sykes, Supervisor, Town of Delaware

Photos sent by Delaware River Solar below, used with permission.

1 https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-completion-largest-community-solar-project-new-york-state

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Baer Road Solar Farm (Delaware River Solar)

Baer Road Solar Farm (Delaware River Solar)

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Sheep grazing at Baer Road Solar Farm (Delaware River Solar)