“Town lawmakers on Wednesday unanimously approved a yearlong moratorium on large-scale solar arrays, making Rotterdam the latest municipality to adopt such a measure as it reassess its laws regulating the energy-producing systems.
The Town Board adopted the moratorium in a 5-0 vote following weeks of input from residents, who urged lawmakers to adopt the measure over concerns about the long-term impact solar arrays pose for the town. Many residents expressed worries that allowing the structures without further regulations does not align with the town’s updated comprehensive plan, which lawmakers also approved Wednesday.
In approving the measure, board members said the moratorium is not anti-solar, but rather a necessary pause to allow the town to review and update its existing ordinance to ensure it meets all facets of the rapidly-expanding industry. The town’s existing solar law was adopted in 2017.
“This is a pause to consider all the details,” said Evan Christou, who introduced the moratorium last month. “At the end of the day, we need to be prudent and we need to make sure that our legislation has kept up with this fast-moving industry.””
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Arnold, Chad. Schenectady Daily Gazette 15 December 2022.