A group of citizens have addressed the Sullivan County Commissioners
and Sullivan County Council with their concerns, and asked for both
boards support at their most recent meetings, about plans for a new
solar panel farm coming to the New Lebanon area.
A letter was also submitted to both boards expressing these thoughts
and concerns, the group led by county resident Trent Dudley. Jackie
Ridge also addressed the council on Monday night.
The group accepted the fact the project will make a positive impact on
the county and support the tax implications stating they are aware
these can help make significant improvement. The group "appreciated
the position our farmers were in" and "continue to support them" on
land deals made with Duke Renewable Resources.
The letter noted DRR appeared to make good on a smooth transition
early on, reaching out to the community.
"They had someone reach out to our community and told us to make a
list of what we would like to see in our town to help offset the
impact the solar panels were going to bring," the letter noted. They
learned the panels were going to completely encompass New Lebanon and
last potentially 40 years.
The group made requests of the developer on the project:
• 1,000-foot buffer
• Trees and plants to block the view
• Potentially installation of residential solar panels to offset the
cost of electricity
• Walking path around the buffer
• Sidewalks and street lights installed to make our streets safer for
the children
• Provide electricity to the residents of New Lebanon
• Maintain community grounds
The letter stated, "We felt all these requests were fair and doable.
At first, we actually felt this could be a great opportunity to make
our community safer and beautiful despite the natural beauty we are
losing due to the panels completely surrounding us. There won't be a
direction for us to look anymore to catch a glimpse of what we fell in
love with in our town. We are no longer going to see the openness, the
woods, the sunsets, sunrises, wildlife, the endless rows of corn. Hear
the sounds of a combine going through the fields, the sounds of the
grain trucks passing through our community. The scents of harvest
circulating throughout our air. It will be gone. We are losing so
much."
The letter went on to say three representatives for the solar panel
farm held an open meeting for New Lebanon.
At the meeting, the letter noted, "they would only entertain the idea
of a negotiable buffer that would benefit them and not us. All the
other requests were shot down."
The letter said, for example, their request for street lights and
sidewalks, saying DRR offered to pay for cement and lights, but the
town would be responsible for labor and logistics. Also rejected was
free electricity and solar panels for individual houses, the letter
said.
The letter indicated the group also "discussed possible services, such
as paying to maintain the cemetery, we were told to create a
non-profit and apply for grants for tangible items. We were actually
told "we like to see tangible items, not services." They indicated
that there could be up to $10,000 available this year and we can ask
for more in the future. But $10,000 for the entire town is a joke."
The letter noted DRR said they would reevaluate the buffers and came
back with a 400-foot buffer from the homes themselves rather than a
250-foot buffer from the property line. "This would essentially give
some a smaller buffer zone."
The letter went on to say "our concerns fell on deaf ears and met
nothing but resistance."
The letter concluded, "We are here tonight as a community asking our
county representatives for support. We are asking that you keep an
open mind as we are more than willing to keep an open mind to all the
positives this project can bring to our county and families. We are
now asking that you keep an open mind with the negatives this project
can bring to our community and help us."
Commissioner Ray McCammon told the group, "The only way we have any
control over what they do is if they ask for a tax abatement … I feel
confident they will ask (for a tax abatement)."
McCammon and commissioners' attorney Terry Modesitt both said if a
request is made for a tax abatement, there will be public hearings
with the county's redevelopment commission, commissioners and council.
"Just so you know," McCammon added. "We plan to try to incorporate
these solar farms into the TIF areas. Which is a complicated another
ball of wax we're not going to explain tonight. But if we are able to
do that, there will be money available the county will have control
over that can be used to upgrade all the things you are asking about."
Dudley said they just wanted to communicate what had transpired so far,
acknowledging the project is still in the early stages.
"We just wanted to express our concerns," he said.
Several council members also voiced their support with the group's
concerns as this process moves forward.
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