State Issues Final Permit For Controversial CarlisleSeward Solar Facility

CARLISLE/SEWARD – The day many residents and officials across Schoharie County have dreaded came Tuesday, April 22 when New York State's Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission issued a final site permit for a 20 MW solar energy facility to be located in the Towns of Carlisle and Seward.

The action comes after years of many residents and officials fighting the facility, saying it represented negative environmental, aesthetic, road use and other impacts that were not being taken seriously enough by ORES and other state officials. At a public hearing several months ago, many officials and residents spoke out against the facility, with not one speaking in favor at the hearing.

"As we expected, it was a rubber stamp by ORES totally ignoring the comments and hundreds of pages of documents that we submitted against the development of the solar project," Carlisle Supervisor John Leavitt wrote in a text message to this newspaper on Wednesday. "We will continue to do all we can for the people of Carlisle and Seward as the courts allow us to do."

Seward Supervisor Earlin Rosa has also spoken out passionately in opposition to the solar facility.

But at a press conference on Tuesday, which was Earth Day, New York Governor Kathy Hocul hailed the issuance of the final permit for the Carlisle/Seward facility, as well as final permits issued for a 40 MW solar facility in Fulton County and 90 MW solar facility in Chautauqua County.

"On Earth Day, New York is proud to announce its latest investment in solar and wind energy, upholding our commitment to build a clean energy economy," Hochul said. "New York is expediting permitting for clean energy projects, all while creating good-paying jobs throughout the state. These projects are a testament to New York's commitment to sustainability and resiliency in the face of a changing climate."

The state has approved 28 large-scale solar and wind projects since 2021, the press release that contained Hochul's comments added.

"I also find it ironic that on Earth Day that the Governor's office would proudly announce that they were going to destroy hundreds of acres of farmland and risk polluting wells of numerous residents," Leavitt countered in his text message.

The final site permit for the Rock District solar project in the two towns is to "develop, design, construct, operate, maintain and decommission" the facility. "This siting permit will automatically expire if the solar facility does not commence commercial operation within seven years from the date of issuance."

The final site permit adds that the plan for the solar facility "complies with substantive provisions and applicable state laws and regulations" and also "complies with substantive provisions of applicable local laws and ordinances, except those provisions the Office has elected not to apply based on a finding that they are unreasonably burdensome in view of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act targets and the environmental benefits of the facility."

Further, the final site permit states that the plan for the facility "avoids, minimizes or mitigates to the maximum extent practicable, potential significant adverse environmental impacts of the facility."

In her comments at the press conference, Hochul added that the three facilities including the one in Carlisle and Seward will "bolster local economies and bring 150 MW of clean energy to about 40,000 homes."