To the Editor:

Upstate New York is experiencing rapid development of solar power plants. Counties, towns, and residents want to understand the complex information provided by the steady stream of solar and real-estate developers.

Town approval of solar facilities sets a precedent for all future development. Our town boards may follow their solar laws and comprehensive plans, but this legislation may not be sufficient.

Last summer, Westerlo adopted a one-year moratorium on utility-scale solar plants. In December, Schoharie County announced the possibility of application fees and minimum PILOT [payment in lieu of taxes] agreements.

On Jan. 9, the Duanesburg Town Board approved a solar moratorium. Middleburg is considering one. Guilderland and Altamont are reviewing a solar project near the Orchard Creek Golf Course.

The amount of time and resources each town is devoting to solar developers is overwhelming!

Concerned citizens are also searching for responsible solutions to include renewable energy in their community development plans. Residents understand that strong solar laws are important not just for today, but for our children who will decommission the solar arrays in 30 years.

I think we have a lot to learn from each other. There’s no need for each town and village to reinvent the wheel.

Let’s share our resources and ideas on how to responsibly site solar power plants. Let’s discuss if solar arrays can be built under high-power transmission lines. How can Article 10 projects respect town law and resident views? Let’s sit down and talk about it.

Please join me at the Sensible Solar Summit on Wednesday, Jan. 22, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 132 Duanesburg Churches Road, Duanesburg NY 12056.

More information can be found on the website: sensiblesolarsummit.com.

Lynne Bruning

Duanesburg

Editor’s note: See related story.