Small Solar Facility Proposed For Piece of Roberts' Farm In Sharon

By Chris English

SHARON SPRINGS _ The topic of solar energy comes up often at local meetings, and that was the case again at the Wednesday, Feb. 19 meeting of the Sharon Springs Joint Planning Board.

Chad Dixon, owner of Freestate Solar in Tivoli and Jutta Middel, a project manager for Renua Energy, attended the meeting to present a sketch plan for a proposed 5 MW solar energy facility on about 7.5 acres of a 96-acre farm on Slate Hill Road in the Town of Sharon owned by Sharon Springs School Board President Helen Roberts.

Dixon explained that Roberts reached out to him and the two talked about how the acreage being proposed for the solar facility is not being farmed anymore and it was an opportunity for Roberts to receive income from the land. The remainder of the 96 acres will remain a farm, Dixon added.

He and Middel _ Renua is one of Dixon's contractors on the proposed project _ said the idea is for a "community solar farm to provide support for the local area." They added the facility would produce about nine million kilowatt hours of electricity a year, enough to power about 900 homes. Power would be provided directly to the Sharon substation go be used by customers in National Grid's Albany Capital District territory.

"We 're not radically changing it from being a farm," Dixon said of the entirety of Roberts' farm. He added that the proposed facility is not large enough to be eligible for consideration of approval by New York State's Office of Renewable Energy Siting and reviews would come from local authorities. Joint Planning Board Chair Ray Parsons gave somewhat of a warning about what may be coming during public hearings on the matter, alluding to a much larger solar facility in Sharon that has caused a lot of controversy.

"This community is so fed up with solar," he told Dixon and Middel. "There will be heated discussions."

When asked by a media member at the meeting when the facility might actually be built _ assuming it gets approval_ Middel estimated in about a year or year and a half. She added that among the next steps are talking to neighbors about the project and finding ways to screen as much as possible views of the solar panels from motorists on Slate Hill Road and nearby Route 20.

"We need to do civil engineering, look at slopes and jurisdictional issues on wetlands," Middel said. "We want to make sure in general that it meets up well with your wants and expectations."

Dixon said that his company and Roberts have reached agreement on a 20-year lease for the 7.5 acres, with three five-year extensions.

In other news from the Feb. 19 meeting, Joint Planning Board member Ron Ketelsen announced that he is recusing himself from further reviews in the proposed renovation of the Pavilion Cottages in Sharon Springs. Since the project was introduced, the developers of the project have alleged that Ketelsen has certain conflicts related to his role on the Sharon Springs Historical Society.

"It's just an accusation but just so there is clearly no appearance of a conflict it's just easier if I recuse myself," Ketelsen said. He went on to explain that Village of Sharon Springs attorney Michelle Kennedy, who often advises the joint planning board, "will step in for me and he (developers) will be charged for her time. He currently has 65 questions to be answered and Michelle has said the matter will not be put back on the agenda until the questions are answered."

On another matter, Ketelsen said there was a recent inquiry on whether the rundown and long vacant Adler Hotel in Sharon Springs could possibly be turned into a storage facility, and that those inquiring were told no.

"It's deteriorated even more," he said of the hotel. "The last time I was there, the ballroom was like a swimming pool." Ketelsen went to say that tarps Schoharie County supplied to help prevent further structural damage to the roof were never put on and that the county intended to take the tarps back.