Solar

News media and documents relating to solar power plants. For specific towns and solar law please click on COMMUNITY for drop down list of New York towns and villages.

Skip the lawnmower. Hire a team of goats to clear the field.

  “Industrial landscaping can get heavy-duty at times. At a million-dollar solar array in Thomaston, town officials decided to go low-tech with their mowing. Thomaston Pollution Control Superintendent John Fancy rented 12 goats from an area farm to clear overgrown grass and weeds around the town’s solar panels that went online this spring. He said … [Read more…]

Glen Town Board makes minor changes to solar law, final approval expected in August

  “The Glen Town Board affirmed their support for measures in a proposed local law tightening regulations over utility-scale solar projects and made only minor changes to the draft law during a special meeting on Thursday. The meeting was called to review comments received during the public hearing on the law on July 11. That … [Read more…]

Is a solar energy project a farm? That’s the question, as Lenox faces a legal challenge from a major developer

  “A major developer is threatening to escalate a legal confrontation with Lenox, as it lays groundwork for a bid to install solar panels on land mostly in a residential area. So far, it’s been hot words at municipal meetings and filings in local court. Several Lenox officials want an end to “bombastic” statements by … [Read more…]

Eversource faces conflict of interest questions in wind-energy contracts

  “The state’s two major electric utilities wield considerable power by choosing the wind farm projects that can be built off the coast of Massachusetts. Maybe not for much longer. When state-sanctioned clean energy contracts go out to bid, Eversource and National Grid (along with Unitil) get to pick the winners. It’s a power that … [Read more…]

Albany’s getting a new ethics watchdog to replace JCOPE — but the JJOKE’s on us!

  “New Yorkers can bid a not-so-fond farewell to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics. The state ethics watchdog, which was deeply hobbled by its members’ ties to the lawmakers who appointed them, held its last meeting Tuesday. Good riddance. JCOPE’s 11-year tenure was marked by in-fighting and could never be taken seriously (it was … [Read more…]

NY Green Bank’s new fund will finance clean energy in underserved areas

  “NY Green Bank, an investment fund for sustainable infrastructure projects, wants to ensure that disadvantaged communities across New York state aren’t left out of the transition to clean energy. The publicly backed entity is developing a $250 million “community decarbonization fund” to provide low-cost capital to community development financial institutions and other lenders for … [Read more…]

ConnectGen part 2 solar project in Glen nets award from NYSERDA

  “Developers planning a large-scale solar project in Glen have received an award for a second massive project targeted for the town from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. ConnectGen’s Mill Point Solar 2 project was among the 22 large-scale solar and energy storage projects across the state selected to receive renewable … [Read more…]

Protecting Renewable Energy Equipment from Harsh Environments

  “Ensuring the alternative energy sector’s long-term success will require protecting a wide variety of equipment from the elements in harsh outdoor settings, while optimizing performance and minimizing required maintenance. From small solar powered LED lighting to massive solar farms, as well as wind turbines of all sizes, critical components must be able to stand … [Read more…]