“If you want to build a solar project in Schoharie County, you’re going to be putting some money up.
Up front.
Frustrated by solar projects that don’t go anywhere, and alarmed by reports that New York State could be extending some $500 million in tax incentives for solar developers, supervisors are now requiring a $10,000-$150,000 pre-application fee based on the size of the project.
The fee would be 75 percent refundable once the project is approved and a PILOT accepted, with the remaining 25 percent retained by the local town or village.
If the project isn’t approved within a year, the fee will be forfeited; 75 percent will be divided between the town and village and 25 percent will go to the county.
“They do it for everyone else,” Blenheim Supervisor Don Airey told supervisors as he explained the resolution he’s put together with help from Sharon Supervisor Sandy Manko, whose town has become a solar hot-spot.
“It’s a joke having to justify this to people who pay taxes…” especially when Town Boards and Planning Boards are investing so much of their time and resources in what often turns out to be just speculation.
“We need to control the process rather than having the developers dictate it,” Mr. Airey said. “It’s been never-ending.”
Under the new fee schedule, a pre-application fee of $10,000 per megawatt will be required by renewable energy companies, payable to the host town or village, with a minimum of $25,000 for projects less than 2.5 megawatts and a maximum of $150,000 for projects 15 megawatts and larger.”
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Nicosia, Patsy. Times Journal 31 December 2019.