Cochecton energy

LINDA DROLLINGER
Posted 3/16/17

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — The March 8 meeting of the Cochecton Town Board was all about emerging energy generation, supply and cost. The board voted unanimously (minus absent Anna Story) to approve …

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Cochecton energy

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LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — The March 8 meeting of the Cochecton Town Board was all about emerging energy generation, supply and cost.

The board voted unanimously (minus absent Anna Story) to approve a six-month extension of a moratorium on large-scale commercial solar installations, in effect since March 2016. Originally intended to allow planning, zoning and town boards sufficient time to develop a comprehensive commercial solar energy production zoning ordinance, the moratorium will end with adoption of that ordinance, tentatively scheduled for the town board’s May 10 meeting. The draft ordinance is slated for presentation at a 7 p.m. public hearing on April 12, at which time the board welcomes public comment.

Adoption of a large-scale commercial solar ordinance will mark the town’s second foray into regulation of solar energy production. An ordinance regulating solar energy production for residential and agricultural use was adopted in 2011 as part of a green energy policy that also addresses wind-generated energy.

Supervisor Gary Maas said now is a good time to secure lower energy rates, noting that the town has just signed a 33-month agreement with Constellation Energy at a rate 25% lower than it had been paying. Maas sees appreciable savings, as the town’s power bill has been averaging around $10,000 per year.

That emerging energies are now an inherent part of the energy industry became obvious when Dick Riseling, proprietor of Apple Pond Farm and Renewable Energy Education Center and founder of Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Development (SASD, sullivanalliance.org,) addressed the board at its pre-meeting work session. Riseling informed the board that SASD, formed in 2004, is now poised to implement Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s mandate for increased availability of cost-effective electricity from renewable sources.

Repeating much of what the board heard months ago from Louise Gava of Municipal Electric and Gas Alliance (MEGA), Riseling explained that Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) legislation is the first step in allowing selection of a community administrator who will negotiate lower prices and more renewable energy sources on behalf of community residents. MEGA is just one of several organizations that serve as administrators for CCA groups.

Says Riseling, “Renewable energy production will create good local jobs, provide county residents with reliable energy supplies for years to come, and insulate us from the wildly fluctuating prices of fossil fuels.” In a county where seasonal tourism is the major industry, Riseling predicts energy self-sufficiency will foster year-round economic stability. “To the extent that Sullivan County can produce its own power, the money that customers spend on electricity will stay within the county.”

But before any of these things can happen, Riseling says a minimum of four to six towns in Sullivan County must pass CCA-enabling legislation. “How many have done it so far?” Maas asked pointedly.

“So far, we’ve had verbal commitments from three or four. To date, none has adopted the requisite legislation,” said Riseling. However, adopting legislation is a time-consuming process that requires drafting of ordinance(s) and holding public hearings, which normally take months to accomplish. Riseling invited the public to call him (845/482-4764) with questions about the CCA process.

Asked after the meeting about his intentions regarding CCA legislation, Maas said, “Let’s wait and see how many other towns step up. If not enough do, then it will be a waste of time and effort for us to go ahead with the legislation.”

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