Wallkill Valley Times Nov. 02 2016

TIMES WALLKILL VALLEY Vol. 34, No 44 3 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016 Page 44 www.WallkillValleyTimes.net 20-acre solar farm proposed for Pine Bush By the end of 2017, solar energy may be available to 500 Pine Bush homes and businesses who lack solar technology, according to John Reagan, zoning manager for development for Cypress Creek Renewables, based in Santa Monica, California. He appeared before the Town of Crawford Planning Board with a preliminary plan for a 20-acre two ONE DOLLAR Vikings win finale New source of energy? By JESSICA COHEN [email protected] 3 megawatt solar farm at 2208 State Route 52 in Pine Bush, which the company has leased. The company aims to make use of state incentives through NYSERDA for such solar farms, as New York heads for Continued on page 5 They just LOVE Halloween! Wonder Woman (Olivia Henry), Elena (Kaydance Sollas) and Mickey Mouse (Cole Sollas) are having a grand time on the lawn of Montgomery’s First Presbyterian Church, while waiting for the annual Halloween Parade to begin. More photos on pages 22 and 23. $3 million solar farm for Montgomery By RACHEL COLEMAN A renewable energy company is looking to create a 2-megawatt solar farm on Lake Osiris Road in Montgomery—an approximately $3 million project. “It’s a good proposal and we know how to do it,” said Anne Waling of Cypress Creek Renewables during a presentation before the Montgomery Planning Board on Monday. Waling said the California-based company has over 3 gigawatts of local solar farms deployed or in development (that’s enough to power approximately 750,000 homes, according to CCR). However the company is not looking to create a large commercial solar farm, but what Waling called a “boutique” farm with 9-15 acres of panels. The driveway, fencing and other items would be placed on the remainder of the 20 acres they are leasing, which will avoid the wetland areas on the property. The panels would be located in two areas, with most of the panels placed in the back portion of the parcel after the currently wooded area has been cleared. Planning Board Chairman Fred Reichle said the extent of the clearing (8-12 acres) will be a concern moving forward, especially with its impact on stormwater management. Another concern will be the effect on the adjacent Walden-Wallkill Rail Trail, across which the initial proposal also suggests an access. “What it looks like from the Rail Trail will be the biggest concern,” said Reichle. Waling said the company intends to place an evergreen buffer screening the Continued on page 3 SERVING CRAWFORD, GARDINER, MAYBROOK, MONTGOMERY, PINE BUSH, SHAWANGUNK, WALDEN AND WALLKILL