Location Changed for CarlisleSeward Solar Facility Public Hearing

CARLISLE/SEWARD _ The location has been changed for a public hearing on a proposed 20 MW solar power facility to be located on about 124 acres on Brown Road in the towns of Carlisle and Seward.

According to a notice of venue change from New York State's Office of Renewable Energy Siting, the public hearing has been switched from a building at SUNY Cobleskill and will now be held at Quality Inn & Suites, 160 Holiday Way, Schoharie. The date (Oct. 9) and starting time (6 p.m.) for the hearing remain the same.

The ORES notice does not give a reason for the change. The public hearing had been scheduled after the agency issued a Notice of Complete application and draft permit for the project. The applicant, Cypress Creek Renewables, or Rock District Solar for purposes of this particular project, filed with ORES for approval after originally seeking it through the two towns.

Carlisle Town Supervisor John Leavitt said his understanding is that the location was changed at the request of SUNY Cobleskill, and added he doesn't have a big issue with it. While concerns have been expressed by some about the Schoharie location being not as good for some Amish who live in the area of the proposed facility, Leavitt said he is confident any Amish who want to attend can be accommodated in terms of transportation if needed.

The hearing is to "hear and receive unsworn comments" from "all persons, organizations, corporations or government agencies who may be affected by the facility," read the ORES notice. It adds that "lengthy comments will not be accepted and instead should be submitted in writing. Equal weight will be given to both oral and written comments."

Oral comments at the hearing may be limited to three minutes, the notice continued. The Schoharie venue is "reasonably accessible to persons with a mobility impairment," it added.

The facility is being opposed by both towns and others, including a group called Schoharie County Citizens Against Solar Assault, who object to it on several fronts. They include, as stated in a recent letter to the editor of this newspaper, that the facility could have harmful impacts on subterranean landscapes.

The application and other documents related to the project are available for view at Carlisle Town Hall, 541 Crommie Road; Seward Town Hall, 795 Lowe Road, Suite 1 and the Cobleskill Community Library, 110 Union Avenue. They can also be viewed electronically at ores.ny.gov. Those with questions about the upcoming public hearing can call Chief Administrative Law Judge James McClymonds at 518-473-4583.