Town of Washington adopts solar law

WASHINGTON — Local Law No. 1 of 2018 was passed by the Washington Town Board on Monday, June 25, by unanimous vote at a public meeting scheduled for that purpose. The turnout was small as it was presumed a foregone conclusion after the well-attended public hearing on June 14, when more than 25 people attended. 

The law was passed after intensive research done by the Solar Committee, headed by Councilmen Al De Bonis and Michael Murphy. They, along with Councilmen Robert Audia and Stephen Turletes and town Supervisor Gary Ciferri, voted to adopt the law.

It’s not just for solar panels on private homes, but for solar farms on larger properties, which are often rented out to solar providers. It’s an issue that’s been debated in the town for a long time.

Local dairy farmer Stephen Van Tassel, of Upland Farms, attended last week’s meeting. He talked about his own desire to have solar power, a project he is currently researching. He would use the solar energy strictly for his own use on the farm, he said, and for rentals on his property.

The language of the law is very precise, yet it does allow for flexibility in some parts. Applications will be looked at on a case-by-case basis. There are still those both for and against allowing solar energy in town. Many farmers and landholders argued that because taxes are high, and profits are not what they used to be, permitting solar power could make it much easier for farmers, and others, to keep their land.

Others are worried problems among neighbors could arise, with the implementation of the law.

For instance, there is a section of the law concerning visibility from one parcel to the next. Ground-mounted solar energy systems need to be at least 3,000 feet from affected parcels, or the owner of the affected parcel must consent to the ground mounted solar energy system in writing.

Howard Schuman, who was a member of the Solar Committee, stated, “About three years ago the town’s comprehensive plan, based on overwhelming public demand, was very adamant about keeping the town rural  and limiting commercial development to the village of Millbrook. This is pretty much how the Solar Committee saw it too, hence the reason for limiting solar electric energy generation to personal use at 110 percent of what a person would use on their property over the course of a year.”  

Schuman said that fit nicely into Governor Cuomo’s initiative. The governor is an advocate of developing alternative power methods. 

“At the moment, the Solar Committee is to remain intact to consider the requests made by the three people who spoke at the solar law public hearing, wanting to be allowed to use their property for commercial solar farms,” added Schuman.

Jane and Warren Geisler addressed their concerns at the meeting on June 14, reading from a letter they sent to the Town Board.

“Our town was once dependent on agricultural production as its economic base,” stated the letter. “We have successfully avoided the relentless suburbanization of the Hudson Valley with prudent zoning laws. But we have not addressed the underlying cause: open, non-productive agricultural land that can no longer generate income to pay the taxes.” 

The Geisler property is more than 60 acres.

Now, though, the Geislers will be able to add solar arrays to their land, for themselves or to rent out, if they so choose — offering some financial relief to the heavy burden of town property taxes.