Latest Updates
July 28, 2022
A letter and call to action from Sensible Solar for Rural New York as it appeared in a postcard sent to 4,000 households in the Copake and surrounding communities and as appeared in local newspapers and in social media ads...
PROTECT COPAKE’S FUTURE | ACT TODAY
Dear Friends & Neighbors,
There has NEVER BEEN A MORE CRITICAL TIME for you to help ensure Copake’s farmland, natural resources, scenic viewsheds and community values are protected from Hecate Energy – an out-of-state developer who continues to place profits before Copake’s best interests and future.
As you may know, the Town of Copake worked for many years to develop and adopt both a Comprehensive Plan and Farmland Protection Plan which are roadmaps for the protection, enhancement and growth of our community and its economy and farmland. Unfortunately, Hecate Energy continues to ignore these important plans, as well as the wishes of Copake’s elected officials and residents.
Last year, Sensible Solar for Rural New York joined with the Columbia Land Conservancy, Friends of Columbia Solar, Scenic Hudson, and agriculture and landscape experts in establishing a community-centric working group – the Copake Solar Working Group – to develop a set of recommendations that would go a long way to guaranteeing Shepherd’s Run was a win-win for both Copake and New York State’s renewable energy goals. To view the working group’s final recommendations, visit www.craryvillegateway.org/presentation.html
While the Copake Solar Working Group, Town of Copake officials and residents have asked Hecate Energy to adopt the working group’s full recommendations, Hecate has only incorporated a few of the low-cost, low- impact recommendations to date.
Most concerning is that Hecate recently sent a communication to Copake residents giving the impression that the developer had taken steps to incorporate the working group’s recommendations into its Shepherd’s Run solar project’s plan and application. The fact is Hecate’s communication is misleading and mischaracterizes the working group’s support.
You should know that the Copake Solar Working Group outlined in great detail to Hecate what working group recommendations Hecate’s current application does and does not include, and more importantly, which recommendations Hecate must include in order to fully adopt the working group’s recommendations in earnest and substance. Sending such a misleading mailing to Copake residents after the fact – implying the Copake Solar Working Group’s endorsement – is deceiving and NOT an act of trust or respect.
It is imperative that Hecate Energy’s proposed 220-acre solar facility is in harmony and protects our community’s farmland, wetlands, streams, forests, viewsheds, and agriculture and tourism-dependent economy. Additionally, Hecate Energy must pay its fair share of local, county and school taxes; enter into a Community Benefit Agreement that truly benefits Copake and its residents; and fairly compensate neighboring homeowners who will see their property values plummet as a result of the industrial-scale project.
Unless Governor Hochul, Lt. Governor Delgado and ORES force Hecate Energy’s hand, Copake will be forever changed should Shepherd’s Run advance as currently proposed in Hecate’s application to New York State. Because Hecate’s initial application was found incomplete by ORES, Hecate has the opportunity to incorporate the working group’s full recommendations into its revised project plan and application.
Below you will find three ways you can help protect Copake’s valuable farmland, natural resources, scenic viewsheds and community values. It’s imperative New York State officials hear from you and our entire community this week, so be sure to ask your family, friends and work colleagues to join you in writing.
Thank you in advance for taking action and protecting Copake’s future!
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD | ACTION STEPS
Below are three important steps you can take to ensure Hecate Energy’s proposed Shepherd’s Run solar facility does not destroy Copake and its farmland, natural resources, viewsheds, property values and future.
ACTION STEP ONE:
Most important, post a public comment to the New York State Department of Public Service’s website so your concerns are made part of the official considerations of Hecate Energy’s application by New York State.
ACTION STEP TWO:
Call or write to Governor Kathy Hochul and Lt. Governor Anthony Delgado and urge them to require Hecate Energy to incorporate the working group’s full and substantive recommendations into its application for Shepherd’s Run. Key message points can be found at www.sensiblesolarny.org/letter-writing.html
Governor Kathy Hochul
Lt. Governor Anthony Delgado
NYS State Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224
518-474-8390
Alternatively, you can email Governor Hochul at https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form
ACTION STEP THREE:
Call or write to Houtan Moaveni, Executive Director of the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) and urge ORES to require Hecate Energy to incorporate the working group’s full and substantive recommendations into its application for Shepherd’s Run.
Key message points can be found at www.sensiblesolarny.org/letter-writing.html
Houtan Moaveni, Executive Director
NYS Office of Renewable Energy Siting
c/o: OGS Mailroom
240 State Street | P-1 South, J Dock Albany, NY 12242
518-473-4590
Alternatively, you can email ORES at https://ores.ny.gov/form/contact-form
PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY!
Copake’s future depends on us holding Hecate Energy and our elected officials accountable for Shepherd’s Run development and impact on our community!
PROTECT COPAKE’S FUTURE | ACT TODAY
Dear Friends & Neighbors,
There has NEVER BEEN A MORE CRITICAL TIME for you to help ensure Copake’s farmland, natural resources, scenic viewsheds and community values are protected from Hecate Energy – an out-of-state developer who continues to place profits before Copake’s best interests and future.
As you may know, the Town of Copake worked for many years to develop and adopt both a Comprehensive Plan and Farmland Protection Plan which are roadmaps for the protection, enhancement and growth of our community and its economy and farmland. Unfortunately, Hecate Energy continues to ignore these important plans, as well as the wishes of Copake’s elected officials and residents.
Last year, Sensible Solar for Rural New York joined with the Columbia Land Conservancy, Friends of Columbia Solar, Scenic Hudson, and agriculture and landscape experts in establishing a community-centric working group – the Copake Solar Working Group – to develop a set of recommendations that would go a long way to guaranteeing Shepherd’s Run was a win-win for both Copake and New York State’s renewable energy goals. To view the working group’s final recommendations, visit www.craryvillegateway.org/presentation.html
While the Copake Solar Working Group, Town of Copake officials and residents have asked Hecate Energy to adopt the working group’s full recommendations, Hecate has only incorporated a few of the low-cost, low- impact recommendations to date.
Most concerning is that Hecate recently sent a communication to Copake residents giving the impression that the developer had taken steps to incorporate the working group’s recommendations into its Shepherd’s Run solar project’s plan and application. The fact is Hecate’s communication is misleading and mischaracterizes the working group’s support.
You should know that the Copake Solar Working Group outlined in great detail to Hecate what working group recommendations Hecate’s current application does and does not include, and more importantly, which recommendations Hecate must include in order to fully adopt the working group’s recommendations in earnest and substance. Sending such a misleading mailing to Copake residents after the fact – implying the Copake Solar Working Group’s endorsement – is deceiving and NOT an act of trust or respect.
It is imperative that Hecate Energy’s proposed 220-acre solar facility is in harmony and protects our community’s farmland, wetlands, streams, forests, viewsheds, and agriculture and tourism-dependent economy. Additionally, Hecate Energy must pay its fair share of local, county and school taxes; enter into a Community Benefit Agreement that truly benefits Copake and its residents; and fairly compensate neighboring homeowners who will see their property values plummet as a result of the industrial-scale project.
Unless Governor Hochul, Lt. Governor Delgado and ORES force Hecate Energy’s hand, Copake will be forever changed should Shepherd’s Run advance as currently proposed in Hecate’s application to New York State. Because Hecate’s initial application was found incomplete by ORES, Hecate has the opportunity to incorporate the working group’s full recommendations into its revised project plan and application.
Below you will find three ways you can help protect Copake’s valuable farmland, natural resources, scenic viewsheds and community values. It’s imperative New York State officials hear from you and our entire community this week, so be sure to ask your family, friends and work colleagues to join you in writing.
Thank you in advance for taking action and protecting Copake’s future!
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD | ACTION STEPS
Below are three important steps you can take to ensure Hecate Energy’s proposed Shepherd’s Run solar facility does not destroy Copake and its farmland, natural resources, viewsheds, property values and future.
ACTION STEP ONE:
Most important, post a public comment to the New York State Department of Public Service’s website so your concerns are made part of the official considerations of Hecate Energy’s application by New York State.
- Go to: https://tinyurl.com/mvtj2wjj
- Post your comments at this site. Please visit sensiblesolarny.org where you can find key talking points that you can use in your comments.
- Be sure to check both the “I’m not a robot” and the “I understand the purpose of public comments...” boxes, and then click the “Post Comment” button at the bottom of the page.
ACTION STEP TWO:
Call or write to Governor Kathy Hochul and Lt. Governor Anthony Delgado and urge them to require Hecate Energy to incorporate the working group’s full and substantive recommendations into its application for Shepherd’s Run. Key message points can be found at www.sensiblesolarny.org/letter-writing.html
Governor Kathy Hochul
Lt. Governor Anthony Delgado
NYS State Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224
518-474-8390
Alternatively, you can email Governor Hochul at https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form
ACTION STEP THREE:
Call or write to Houtan Moaveni, Executive Director of the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) and urge ORES to require Hecate Energy to incorporate the working group’s full and substantive recommendations into its application for Shepherd’s Run.
Key message points can be found at www.sensiblesolarny.org/letter-writing.html
Houtan Moaveni, Executive Director
NYS Office of Renewable Energy Siting
c/o: OGS Mailroom
240 State Street | P-1 South, J Dock Albany, NY 12242
518-473-4590
Alternatively, you can email ORES at https://ores.ny.gov/form/contact-form
PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY!
Copake’s future depends on us holding Hecate Energy and our elected officials accountable for Shepherd’s Run development and impact on our community!
July 21, 2022
February 17, 2022
As noted in the Fall of 2021, Sensible Solar for Rural New York has been working diligently to further efforts to ensure renewable energy siting is properly advanced in New York State, while the Town of Copake continues their litigation appeal against the State of New York. The biggest outcome of SSRNY's work has been a partnership with Friends of Columbia Solar, the Columbia Land Conservancy, Scenic Hudson, and agriculture and landscape experts in establishing a community-centric working group – the Copake Solar Working Group – to develop a set of recommendations that would go a long way to guaranteeing Shepherd’s Run was a win-win for both Copake and New York State’s renewable energy goals.
The Working Group presented it's recommendations via a virtual meeting to the town's residents on 2/17/22. To view the working group’s recommendations, visit www.craryvillegateway.org/presentation.html
Additional updates following the presentation by the Working Group to the community can be found at the Craryville Gateway website - https://www.craryvillegateway.org/updates.html
The Working Group presented it's recommendations via a virtual meeting to the town's residents on 2/17/22. To view the working group’s recommendations, visit www.craryvillegateway.org/presentation.html
Additional updates following the presentation by the Working Group to the community can be found at the Craryville Gateway website - https://www.craryvillegateway.org/updates.html
October 7, 2021
On October 7, the Court issued a final decision and order dismissing the lawsuit brought against the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) by Copake and 12 other plaintiffs over the 94-C siting process for industrial wind and solar facilities. Read the full decision here:
http://climatecasechart.com/climate-change-litigation/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/case-documents/2021/20211007_docket-905502-21_decision.pdf
Since the Court's decision was made without a hearing or oral arguments, there was no final opportunity for argument, and no party filed a response to the plaintiff's memorandum of law prepared by Zoghlin (plaintiffs' attorney).
The Town of Copake and Sensible Solar for Rural New York are disappointed in the Court’s expedited decision. Plaintiffs are discussing next steps including whether to appeal the Court's decision.
In the meantime, Sensible Solar for Rural New York will continue our fight to ensure renewable energy siting is properly advanced in New York State, with full consideration for the environment and the interests of rural communities. We are planning a number of actions between now and the end of the year, and hope Sensible Solar can count on your continued support. Public relations efforts, media and policy-maker outreach, and other advocacy activities cost money, and to that end we hope you will consider making a donation at this time so we can continue our work.
http://climatecasechart.com/climate-change-litigation/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/case-documents/2021/20211007_docket-905502-21_decision.pdf
Since the Court's decision was made without a hearing or oral arguments, there was no final opportunity for argument, and no party filed a response to the plaintiff's memorandum of law prepared by Zoghlin (plaintiffs' attorney).
The Town of Copake and Sensible Solar for Rural New York are disappointed in the Court’s expedited decision. Plaintiffs are discussing next steps including whether to appeal the Court's decision.
In the meantime, Sensible Solar for Rural New York will continue our fight to ensure renewable energy siting is properly advanced in New York State, with full consideration for the environment and the interests of rural communities. We are planning a number of actions between now and the end of the year, and hope Sensible Solar can count on your continued support. Public relations efforts, media and policy-maker outreach, and other advocacy activities cost money, and to that end we hope you will consider making a donation at this time so we can continue our work.
