“Critics of a proposed solar farm have been granted a two-week reprieve to study a proposed payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement to be executed with the developer.
The town board voted on Thursday to postpone a vote on the deal until Jan. 9 after getting an earful from local residents contending the project will harm their property values and has been shrouded in secrecy.
“The town cannot in good conscience approve that document,” said Wallace Thompson. “We just haven’t had any time to spend time looking at this.”
Duanesburg Central School District took the lead on hashing out the agreement, known as a PILOT, with the Troy-based Eden Renewables.
Since the county opted out, the arrangement will be a 50-50 split, which is unusual, town officials said, because typically school districts receive a larger cut.
“This is a more advantageous split generally afforded to the town,” said Terresa Bakner, town attorney.
Town Supervisor Roger Tidball estimated the deal would generate $150,000 over a 15-year period. Payments would begin at $8,125 in 2021 and increase 2 percent annually. “
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DeMola, Pete. Schenectady Gazette 30 December 2019.