LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — “This is too important to be decided by five town board members without input from all town residents.” Supervisor Gary Maas’ statement at the May 11 Cochecton Town Board meeting referred to the issue before the board: whether or not to permit solar farms—the commercial production of solar energy—within the town.

Working in tandem with the town’s planning board as well as county and state planning agencies, the board has been considering the possibility of permitting solar farms within town borders since receipt three months ago of the first application for a permit to operate one. Both town and planning board members have been working overtime to educate themselves about solar farms, their requirements, potential benefits, environmental challenges, tax exemption incentives and long-term consequences of all the above.

Among the things they’ve learned is that New York State recognizes several categories of solar farm, including pilot programs and community solar farms, each with separate operating requirements and different potential benefits to local residents. The board has heard a presentation from Delaware River Solar (DRS), a community solar farm company prepared to offer area residents 20-year fixed-rate energy contracts.

Noting that a community solar farm could provide energy at a rate 10% lower than that currently offered by New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG), Maas said that might translate into lower rates for local residents, or it might not. DRS owner and CEO Rich Winter told the board his company exercises no control over the delivery fees NYSEG assesses to homeowners.

In summary, Maas said that the solar-farm issue is not a simple one and that town residents should have the opportunity to know at least as much about it as the town board has already learned. Suggesting that a town hall meeting be held on June 1 at 7 p.m., Maas said it would be an opportunity for residents to get information, ask questions and air opinions before letting board members know if they want solar farms in their town.

If residents want solar farms, they must also decide where and under what conditions those farms will be allowed to operate. Maas noted that, at this time, there are only two or three sites within the town capable of supporting a solar farm. “Residents may be unhappy with those sites,” said Maas.

Some old business came to the fore at the same meeting. Lake Huntington, green this time last year as the result of a blue-green algae bloom, is this year brown. “I get several calls a day from people concerned about it,” said Maas. His consultation with representatives from the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee indicate that it’s caused by decaying algae rising to the water’s surface.

The algae is in turn caused by nutrients deposited in the water, probably from runoff of wetlands surrounding the lake. Salinity was not found to be a factor, meaning that salt from road maintenance is not to blame. In seeking a natural solution, stocking the lake with algae-eating fish has already been discounted as ineffectual. But other remedies are under consideration, one of them to lower lake level at summer’s end.

One issue with potential to impact lake surroundings is the Stanzoni campground proposal, due for review by the zoning board of appeals on May 19.

For complete meeting minutes and details of upcoming town hall and ZBA meetings, visit townofcochectonny.org.