
Hecate Energy’s Matt Levin, center, discusses detail of the Shepherd’s Run project with Copake residents who attended an open house on April 3, 2024, in Hillsdale.
John Coston
Hecate Energy’s Matt Levin, center, discusses detail of the Shepherd’s Run project with Copake residents who attended an open house on April 3, 2024, in Hillsdale.
COPAKE — The proposal to build a 42-megawatt solar farm is coming into sharp focus this week as state legislators criticize the plan ahead of a decision due from Albany and an announcement from Hecate Energy LLC to hold a virtual open house for residents.
The pros and cons of Shepherd’s Run Solar Farm have been debated since 2017. Last spring the state denied Hecate’s application. In December, the company refiled, triggering a 60-day period for the state to respond. That clock runs out on Friday, Feb. 21. Hecate will hold its virtual open house on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 4 p.m.
In the weeks since the new filing, comment for and against has been submitted by residents, groups, and more recently by state legislators.
State Sen. Michelle Hinchey, D-41, who chairs the Agriculture Committee, wrote to Zeryai Hagos, executive director of the Office of Renewable Energy Siting, ORES, on Feb. 12, stating: “I have followed this issue closely over the past few years, and not only does this project pose significant risks to our environment and water supply, I believe Hecate has acted in bad faith throughout the process.
“It is hard for me to understand why ORES is still going through the review process with a proposal it has already found to be flawed and worthy of dismissal.”
State Assemblymember Didi Barrett, D-106, who chairs the Energy Committee, wrote to Gov. Kathy Hochul on Feb. 5, expressing concerns “of many of my constituents, including the Town of Copake leadership.” Barrett noted to the governor that this was her third letter concerning the project since Hochul took office.
“It has been my experience that from the outset,” Barrett wrote, “Hecate has failed to act in good faith, neither communicated with or addressed the concerns of the Town leadership and community as a whole.
“As an example, the newest application still does not reflect the recommendations of the community-wide Craryville Gateway Working Group, which I served on for several years. The application also fails to take into consideration the Department of Environmental Conservation’s newly enacted wetland regulations.”
In her letter, Barrett quoted Hochul, who in a 2023 veto message said: “It is incumbent on renewable energy developers to cultivate and maintain strong ties to their host communities throughout the planning, siting, and operation of all large-scale projects.”
Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson wrote about concerns the city’s Common Council cited in October 2024 about the safety of Hudson’s water supply. The Council adopted a resolution in opposition of the Shepherd’s Run project siting on the watershed of Taghkanic Creek, which supplies 100% of the water for the city.
“Unfortunately, we have not seen any evidence that the protection of the Taghkanic Watershed, and thus, Hudson’s water supply, or compliance with 10 NYCRR 109.1, has been addressed in Hecate’s application to ORES,” Johnson wrote. “We do not consider platitudes by the developer promising to rely on an Environmental Monitor (which Hecate appoints) to ‘promote avoidance of unpermitted wetland impacts’ a substitute for guaranteed assurances that no harm will come to Hudson’s water. We can point to examples of instances where water supplies have been negatively impacted by solar facilities and if there’s even a chance that could happen to Hudson it must be seriously addressed BEFORE any permit is issued.”
Sensible Solar for Rural New York, a group of citizens, this month reiterated its opposition to the project. Sara Traberman, of Sensible Solar, wrote: “It is clear that Hecate’s application fails to address extremely important potential impacts of this project, including wetland damage, risks to Hudson’s drinking water, and fire risks to the nearby Taconic Central School and Audubon Rheinstrom wildlife sanctuary. ORES should not grant it a permit.”
Friends of Columbia Solar, whose members are residents of the community who support Shepherd’s Run,has submitted supporting comment on the ORES website. Following Hecate’s refiling of the application, Dan Haas, representing the group, wrote:“What’s needed now is not more pointless delays, but as quick a start as possible towards the completion of a solar facility that will benefit not only the Town of Copake but, given the urgency of climate action, the planet Earth as well.”
The project has drawn more than 200 comments filed on the ORES website,mostly in opposition.
Hecate’s Matt Levine, senior director of development, said the newly submitted application includes changes based on community feedback. Some of them are: excluding battery storage; native tree and shrub planting to minimize sightlines for neighbors; extending and connecting local hiking trails and recreational and education opportunities; providing for sheep grazing and several other priorities discussed with residents.
Levine also stated in an email: “Hecate is committed to ensuring the Shepherd’s Run Solar Farm is built in way that preserves and protects the natural resources of Copake and the surrounding community. After extensive reviews covering every aspect of the project’s impact on the Taghkanic Creek Watershed it is clear that building Shepherd’s Run will actually improve water quality — especially compared to current land use — as Troy Weldy from the Columbia Land Conservancy noted in a presentation to the Conservation Advisory Council in Hudson earlier this month.
“As our permit application moves forward, we will continue to engage with the community to ensure their concerns are incorporated so we can build a project that helps New York meet its clean energy goals while preserving and protecting the natural beauty of Columbia County. As I said in my letter to the community, the project has already been greatly improved by incorporating the feedback we have heard along the way.”
Town of Copake Supervisor Richard Wolf, who has posted solar updates on the town’s website, updated the status at the Feb. 13 board meeting. In an interview he criticized Hecate.
“This belated invitation to a virtual meeting is another example of Hecate’s lack of engagement with the town, with the town’s people and it’s scheduled for midweek when they well know that weekenders won’t be here and anybody who is working may well not be available, anybody with children may not be available and the fact that they don’t have the courtesy to come and meet with the community in person is another indication of their approach to this entire matter.
“The timing, of course, right at the end of the 60-day period is further evidence,” Wolf said.
NORTH CANAAN — Following requests by the Board of Finance to reexamine 2025-26 spending proposals, the boards of selectmen and education presented updated plans Wednesday, April 9.
For town spending, Board of Finance Chairman Doug Humes suggested the full first selectman’s salary, which was initially reduced to $6,500, be reinstated.
In his explanation Humes said, “The first selectman takes more responsibilities than the rest of the board.”
The Board of Finance also asked about $5,000 allocated to “contingency fund.”First Selectman Brian Ohler said this line is for discretionary spending and could be removed at the finance board’s request.
The selectmen modified both lines of the town spending plan. The first selectman’s salary was set at $24,000 and the contingency fund was reduced to $0.
The updated municipal spending proposal shows a bottom line of $3,239,732, a reduction of $3,204 from last year’s budget.
For educational expenses, the board asked North Canaan Elementary School Principal Beth Johnson to reduce spending where possible.
She returned April 9 with a lowered bottom line.
“We pulled about $42,000 off the teacher’s line,” said Johnson, explaining the severances for retired individuals will be paid out of this year’s budget instead of next year’s.
The updated NCES spending plan totals $4,767,136.46, an increase of $231,023.76, or 5.09%, compared to last year.
The Board of Finance will host a public hearing for municipal and education spending plans Thursday, May 14, at 7 p.m. in Town Hall.
Legal Notice
The Planning & Zoning Commission of the Town of Salisbury will hold a Public Hearing on Special Permit Application #2025-0279 by owners Sievert and Eliza McCabe for vertical expansion of a nonconforming structure at 21 Mount Riga Road, Salisbury, Map 14, Lot 17 per Section 503.2 of the Salisbury Zoning Regulations. The hearing will be held on Monday, April 21, 2023 at 6:45 PM. There is no physical location for this meeting. This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom where interested persons can listen to & speak on the matter. The application, agenda and meeting instructions will be listed at www.salisburyct.us/agendas/. Written comments may be submitted to the Land Use Office, Salisbury Town Hall, 27 Main Street, P.O. Box 548, Salisbury, CT or via email to landuse@salisburyct.us. Paper copies may be reviewed Monday through Thursday between the hours of 8:00 AM and 3:30 PM.
Salisbury Planning & Zoning Commission
Martin Whalen
Secretary
04-10-25
04-17-25
Legal Notice
TOWN OF SHARON
BOARD OF FINANCE
All Registered Voters and Property Owners in the Town of Sharon are hereby Warned and Notified that a public hearing will be held Friday, April 25, 2025 at 7:00PM at the Town Hall for the purpose of reviewing the Board of Selectmen’s and the Board of Education’s proposed budgets for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026. Copies of the proposed budgets are available at the Town Hall and on the Town Website.Dated at Sharon,Connecticut this 17th day of April 2025.
Thomas H. Bartram Chairman
Sharon Board of Finance
04-17-25
Notice of Decision
Town of Salisbury
Planning & Zoning Commission
Notice is hereby given that the following action was taken by the Planning & Zoning Commission of the Town of Salisbury, Connecticut on April 7, 2025:
Approved Minor Site Plan Modification in accordance with section 811 of the Zoning Regulations - The Planning and Zoning Commission found that the proposed change does not materially alter Special Permit #2024-0244, previously approved on 07/11/2024. Special Permit #2024-0244 was made by The Salisbury Housing Trust, Inc for New Multi-Family Housing Construction in the Multifamily Housing Overlay District in accordance with Section 405 of the Zoning Regulations. The property is shown on Salisbury Assessor’s Map 56 as Lot 05 and Lot 06 and is known as 26 & 28 Undermountain Road. The owner of the property is Salisbury Housing Trust Inc.
Any aggrieved person may appeal these decisions to the Connecticut Superior Court in accordance with the provisions of Connecticut General Statutes §8-8.
Town of Salisbury
Planning & Zoning Commission
Martin Whalen, Secretary
04-17-25
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
ESTATE OF
DEAN JOSEPH DAVIDSON
Late of Salisbury
(25-00112)
The Hon. Jordan M. Richards, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Litchfield Hills Probate Court, by decree dated March 27, 2025, ordered that all claims must be presented to the fiduciary at the address below. Failure to promptly present any such claim may result in the loss of rights to recover on such claim.
The fiduciary is:
Linda J. Bushnell
c/o Louise F. Brown
Vail & Vail, LLC
5 Academy Street
P.O. Box 568
Salisbury, CT 06068
Megan M. Foley
Clerk
04-17-25
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PUBLISHER’S NOTICE: Equal Housing Opportunity. All real estate advertised in this newspaper is subject tothe Federal Fair Housing Act of 1966 revised March 12, 1989 which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color religion, sex, handicap or familial status or national origin orintention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All residential property advertised in the State of Connecticut General Statutes 46a-64c which prohibit the making, printing or publishing or causing to be made, printed or published any notice, statement or advertisement with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, age, lawful source of income, familial status, physical or mental disability or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.
3b/3b home in Sharon: fully furnished, lake access, 3.84 acres. $5000 per month. 860-309-4482.
MT RIGA Two Bedroom LAKEFRONT: Log cabin. Private beach, canoes and kayaks. $1350/Week. 585-355-5245.
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Salisbury, CT
Estate/Tag Sale: Save These Dates April 26 and 27.
COPAKE — A Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 plane carrying six people crashed in an open field near Two Town Road shortly after noon on Saturday, April 12, killing all aboard.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the aircraft departed from Westchester County Airport and was headed to Columbia County Airport in Hudson.
NTSB board member Todd Inman said Sunday night that the plane‘s passengers were headed to the area for a holiday celebration with family.
Among the victims were Karenna Groff; Jared Groff, their parents Dr. Michael Groff and Dr. Joy Saini; Alexia Couyutas Duarte and James Santoro, according to a family statement.
The NTSB will lead the investigation and expects it will be approximately 30 days before a preliminary report is issued. A full report may take 12 to 24 months, Inman said. The NTSB expects to be on the scene in Craryville for at least a week.
Albert Nixon, an NTSB investigator, will be in charge of the investigation, which will include up to 14 team members.
Inman said the agency has obtained video of the crash, and added that the impact site is 100 yards in length and that the aircraft is intact, but buckled and embedded in the muddy, snow-covered field.
He said the plane appeared to be intact and was flying “at a high rate of descent into the ground.”
NTSB has retrieved data from the plane and is aware that the pilot had missed an initial approach to the airport in Hudson and was being redirected to make another approach. Inman said that air traffic control received a “low altitude report” from radar, but was unable to make contact with the pilot despite three attempts.
“There was no response from the pilot, and there was no distress call,” Nixon said.
Inman thanked the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office for its assistance on the scene and after investigators arrived Saturday. He said there are no plans to release the video, and appealed to anyone who might have other video, eyewitness accounts or information to get in touch with the agency.
In a news conference on Saturday, Columbia County Undersheriff Jacqueline Salvatore said the plane crash occurred in a muddy field on Two Town Road in the Craryville section near Route 23. The crash site is 10 miles from the Columbia County Airport.
Parties to the investigation include Mitsubishi, which manufactured the plane, and Honeywell, maker of the engines as well as the FAA and the air traffic controllers union.
Inman said the plane had been sold approximately one year ago, and that it had upgraded avionics. Its tail number is: NOV635TA, indicating it was manufactured in 1985.
As of Saturday afternoon, agencies on the scene included the Copake Fire District and rescue squads, along with State Police, the coroner and the Sheriff’s Department.