Village of Tannersville Accepting Bids for 500,000 Municipal Solar Project

Tannersville - The Village of Tannersville is once again seeking bids for a municipal solar energy project that could save taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars annually. This is the second time in more than three years that the project has been put out to bid, following delays caused by changes in the Village administration. The deadline for submissions is January 3, 2025, according to Village Clerk Robin Dumont. Applications are available on the Village of Tannersville's website.

The project was originally proposed in 2021 as part of the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) by the Tannersville Local Planning Committee, with support from state agencies, including the NYS Department of State, NYS Homes and Community Renewal, Empire State Development, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

The committee, co-chaired by former Mayor Lee McGunnigle and Todd Erling of the Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation, included a mix of local business owners, school officials, and community leaders. Among them were Ryan Chadwick, owner of Boathouse Restaurant; Sarah Slutzky, Director of Skier Services at Hunter Mountain; and Nate Jones, Superintendent of the Tannersville/Hunter School District. A municipal solar system was identified during stakeholder workshops as a key priority for reducing taxpayer costs and promoting sustainability.

The proposed system would install solar panels at four locations: Village Hall, the pavilion at Rip Van Winkle Lake, Gooseberry Creek Park, and a new trailhead parking area. According to Village DRI documentation, the project will cover all municipal power usage, including streetlights, and is expected to take 10 months to complete.

Former Mayor Lee McGunnigle expressed frustration about delays in implementing the project. "I secured $500,000 for the Village Solar Project to offset the electric use of the municipality," McGunnigle said. "It would eliminate the electric bill for the Village taxpayers. When I left office, we had a bid for $497,000, so the project should have been completed."

McGunnigle said his administration had secured a bid in 2021, but the new administration rejected it. "They're going to give a bunch of excuses, but the buck stops with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor," McGunnigle said, referring to current Mayor David Schneider and Deputy Mayor David Kashman. He also emphasized that Governor Kathy Hochul wanted the project completed on the original timeline, adding, "The two years they haven't had solar panels put in have cost taxpayers at least $120,000 in electric costs."

In 2021, Solar Communities, Inc. (DBA SunCommon) submitted two proposals in response to the Village's initial bid request. The first was a $405,000 base proposal for a combination of roof-mounted and ground-mounted solar systems at four municipal sites. The second proposed a more extensive ground-mounted system at the water treatment plant. Both proposals promised long-term positive cash flow but were rejected by the Village, which cited higher-than-expected costs and the desire for immediate cash-positive results through DRI funding. According to the DRI documentation, the base proposal would generate positive cash flow by Year 16, with the alternate proposal doing so by Year 17.

Mayor David Schneider, who took office in April 2023, says his administration is now moving forward with the project after receiving a state contract. "We have not lost any time or savings for Village residents," Schneider stated.

Schneider clarified that he was not in office when the original bids were rejected. "As Mr. McGunnigle should know, all these projects are subject to contracts with New York State, and we cannot start them until we have said contracts," he said. Schneider added that his administration received the state contract for the solar project about a month ago, enabling them to proceed with a new Request for Proposals (RFP).

He also disputed McGunnigle's timeline, noting that McGunnigle remained in office until March 2023, meaning it was McGunnigle's administration, not his, that rejected the solar project in 2021.

The updated plan excludes the water treatment plant at 195 Leach Drive, which lies outside the DRI boundaries. Instead, a solar installation at a new trailhead parking area at the intersection of Railroad Avenue, South Main Street, and Spruce Street has been added.

The solar project aligns with Tannersville's broader sustainability goals, aiming to reduce the Village's carbon footprint and reinvest savings into green initiatives. These include connectivity improvements to encourage walking and biking within the Village.

The project promises several benefits:

• Short-Term: Covering 100% of municipal electricity needs, significantly reducing taxpayer costs and the Village's carbon footprint while easing the strain on the power grid.

• Mid- to Long-Term: Freeing up resources for other public projects and inspiring broader community action on climate change.

Despite its potential, the project has drawn mixed public reactions. According to a DRI survey, 50% of respondents supported the solar initiative, citing its importance for environmental leadership and sustainability. However, others questioned whether alternative funding sources should have been considered and whether the project aligns with downtown revitalization efforts.

Cost estimates for the project's three solar sites were based on SunCommon's 2021 proposals, while projections for the solar canopies at the trailhead parking area were developed using industry best practices.

By moving forward with the project, the Village of Tannersville hopes to establish itself as a leader in renewable energy and sustainability, demonstrating the practical benefits of solar power while reducing costs for taxpayers.