To the Editor:

The Berne Town Board’s March 11 vote to extend the solar moratorium for another six months [“Berne extends solar moratorium till November,” The Altamont Enterprise, March 12, 2026] raises a simple question: What problem are we still trying to solve?

Over the past year, significant technical and environmental review work has already been completed on the proposed Jansen Lane solar project. A balloon visibility test demonstrated that the proposed solar array on Jansen Lane would not be visible from surrounding homes or public vantage points. No residents reported seeing the markers during that study.

Berne is known for its beautiful views and rural character, and those qualities deserve protection. The available evidence shows this project can fit within that landscape without changing the character residents value.

There has also been some confusion about where the electricity would go. The answer is simple: It stays here. The power generated by this project does not get “sent south” or exported elsewhere.

It stays right here on the local distribution system and directly benefits Berne residents who choose to participate in community solar. More than 1,022 households in the county, including residents of Berne, could subscribe and receive credits on their electric bills. That means local generation of electricity supporting local energy needs while helping families manage rising electricity costs.

It is also important to clearly address another rumor: This project does not include a battery energy storage system. There are no batteries proposed as part of this project.

Furthermore, a battery system could not simply be added later without a separate review process, including approvals from the utility, the town board, and applicable regulatory authorities. Any such addition would require new applications, studies, and public review. Simply put, it cannot be added “after the fact.”

At the same time, the potential financial benefits to the town are real and measurable. The project is expected to generate approximately $20,000 per year in new tax revenue, with scheduled increases over time and totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars over the life of the project.

Over a 30-year period, this represents a significant new revenue source that could help support Berne’s schools, emergency services, and municipal services without increasing taxes on fixed-income residents

At a time when the town had a 68-percent tax hike, delaying responsible new revenue sources only increases pressure on local taxpayers. Turning away stable, long-term revenue means potentially higher taxes or fewer resources for important services.

We have also worked to make information about the project more accessible and transparent. A new public website, bernesolar.com, now provides access to site plans, visual simulations, environmental studies, and contact information so residents can review the facts for themselves. We encourage anyone with questions to review the materials and reach out directly.

Transparency also requires communication to go both ways. We remain ready and willing to meet with town officials to answer questions, provide technical expertise, and discuss reasonable conditions that protect the community. Open communication is how good projects become better projects.

We have also offered our time and technical resources to assist the town if there are questions about the local solar law. We have been told no changes are being considered, yet the moratorium continues.

At some point, continued delay without clear direction risks the town losing control of the process. The real question is whether Berne helps shape the project to meet its standards or watch the local demand for energy grow and risk being a part of the problem of low supply, which is raising energy prices.

Solar projects also help preserve the rural character many residents value. Hosting a solar project can provide stable income that helps the farmer keep his property intact rather than selling land for dense residential or commercial development. In that way, solar supports both open space and the tax base.

Berne deserves decisions grounded in facts, open communication, and the long-term interests of its residents. Continued study is appropriate when new information is needed. But when studies have been completed, questions have been answered, and benefits are clear, continued delay risks costing the town of Berne real opportunities.

RIC Energy is dedicated to supporting communities that are home to our energy projects across New York. Our team works closely with New York municipal leaders, neighbors, and other citizens to maximize the positive impacts of our projects.

We invite everyone to learn more at bernesolar.com where you’ll find plans, visualizations, environmental studies, project history, prior Altamont Enterprise press coverage, and contact information. We welcome every question and every conversation.

Weston Hillegas

Senior Project Manager RIC Energy New York