WHITE LAKE, NY — Many municipalities in New York State have been working on the adoption of solar installation zoning laws, and in several instances residents have raised questions about whether solar panels contain toxic materials.

Jeffrey Allison, co-chair of the Bethel Green Committee, addressed the issue in a letter to the town board, which was read into the record at the town meeting on February 8 by Supervisor Dan Sturm.

Allison wrote, “I wanted to take this additional opportunity to comment on issue of toxicity or hazardous materials, and should we have a clause in our new solar law dealing with this issue.

“I do not think we need such a clause in our law for a number of reasons. The Bethel Green Committee previously noted the toxic or hazardous materials language in the Fremont and Delaware laws, and sought guidance about the potential toxicity of solar panels.

“Our research revealed that the current generation of solar panels does not pose a threat of hazardous materials that might leak or be released. Our solar zoning includes very thorough provisions dealing with maintenance, decommissioning and safe removal and recycling of panels at the end of their useful life.

“There are best practices included in the New York State Model solar law, which was developed by the Pace University Land Use School and CUNY… Other towns that included the hazardous materials clause were written prior to the state’s model law becoming available as a primary reference

“The Green Committee concluded that to include a provision requiring no toxic or hazardous materials in the panels would create the impression that there were significant risks to public health from solar panels, when we believe such is not the case. The toxicity issue is based on outdated and unscientific notions.”

The board is expected to vote to approve the solar zoning law at a future meeting. 

Electric car and charging stations

In other business at the meeting, the board put off accepting a bid for the town to purchase an electric vehicle for employee use because the prices for the 2017 models are not yet available.  Two dealerships have indicated they would submit bids for the smart fortwo (https://www.smartusa.com) electric vehicle in the near future.

Sturm said the board was also going to consider the installation of two charging stations somewhere in Kauneonga Lake, to encourage the use of electric vehicles. He said there is grant money available from the state to offset the cost.

The matter will be taken up by the Green Committee.