Our Letter to Hecate
In Letter to Hecate Energy CEO, Sensible Solar for Rural New York Demands Sensible Solution for Copake!
Yesterday, Sensible Solar for Rural New York called on Hecate Energy CEO Chris Bullinger and his colleagues to work with the Town of Copake to find a sensible solution for its proposed 60-megawatt Shepherd's Run solar facility in Copake and Craryville, NY. In addition, Sensible Solar outlined specific steps Hecate Energy must take to make the project work for Copake and its residents.
A copy of Sensible Solar's correspondence (see below) was forwarded to Hecate Energy's senior management team; Governor Andrew Cuomo and his energy policy staff; representatives from New York State's Office of Renewable Energy Siting, Department of Environmental Conservation, Empire State Development, and Energy Research and Development Authority; and Federal, New York State and Columbia County elected officials.
A copy of Sensible Solar's correspondence (see below) was forwarded to Hecate Energy's senior management team; Governor Andrew Cuomo and his energy policy staff; representatives from New York State's Office of Renewable Energy Siting, Department of Environmental Conservation, Empire State Development, and Energy Research and Development Authority; and Federal, New York State and Columbia County elected officials.
The Letter |
June 11, 2021
Mr. Chris Bullinger
President and CEO, Hecate Energy
621 West Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60661
Dear Mr. Bullinger,
Understanding Hecate Energy’s intention to submit a 94-C application to New York State’s Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) for your proposed Shepherd’s Run solar facility in Copake and Craryville, NY, Sensible Solar for Rural New York urges you and your colleagues to take critical and immediate steps to make the project right for and respectful of Copake and its residents.
Sensible Solar for Rural New York is a citizen-led, nonpartisan coalition that represents more than 4,000 residents of Copake and Columbia County who oppose your 60-megawatt Shepherd’s Run solar facility as currently proposed. Like Hecate Energy, Sensible Solar for Rural New York strongly supports our nation’s and New York State’s commitment to addressing climate change through the expansion of renewable energy. However, the siting and development of large-scale solar and wind projects must not advance at the detriment of rural communities – both must be given equal consideration and weight. Unfortunately, your proposed Shepherd’s Run solar facility would adversely impact Copake’s protected natural resources, farmland, wildlife habitat, rural viewsheds, property values, and agriculture- and tourism-dependent economy for decades, if not forever. Furthermore, your proposed Shepherd’s Run remains in direct conflict with the Town of Copake’s Comprehensive Plan and Farmland Protection Plan – both blueprints for ensuring a vibrant and sustainable Copake for the future.
On your company’s website, Hecate Energy describes its corporate logo as evoking “the circle of trust shared by a company, its clients and the community when a power project is developed and operates with respect for the people it serves.” However, Hecate Energy refuses to sincerely and transparently work with Copake officials, Sensible Solar for Rural New York, and local land conservation, environmental and agriculture organizations to advance New York State’s renewable energy goals while protecting Copake and its natural resources, farmland, wildlife habitat, rural viewsheds and economy. In fact, Hecate Energy continues to decline the Town of Copake’s repeated requests for necessary information and data that would enable both parties to meet as required by the 94-C implementing regulations. Furthermore, Hecate Energy has yet to schedule the public meeting mandated by 94-C, yet homeowners in close proximity of the project site recently received written notice that Hecate Energy plans to submit its 94-C application on or around July 15, 2021.
While we recognize Hecate Energy has made attempts to reduce the footprint of the project, there is significantly more you can and must do to make this project work for Copake. If Hecate Energy is sincere in its pledge to be a trusted and respectful community partner then the residents of Copake and Craryville, the neighboring towns of Hillsdale and Taghkanic, and Columbia County, NY demand the following:
As such, Sensible Solar for Rural New York urges Hecate Energy to postpone submission of its 94-C application for Shepherd’s Run, and instead spend the next three to six months working side-by-side with the Town of Copake to advance a solar project that is looked upon as a shared achievement for both Hecate Energy and Copake.
Absent a sensible, sound solution, the Shepherd’s Run project will surely be delayed for years as the Town of Copake, Sensible Solar for Rural New York and homeowners directly impacted stand ready to litigate the project in the New York State courts, as well as in the court of public opinion. This commitment of time and resources underscores just how strongly and passionately Copake and its residents feel about protecting our natural resources, farmland, wildlife habitat, viewsheds, property values, economy and most importantly, the future of our vibrant and growing rural community.
Thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration of our requests. Sensible Solar for Rural New York stands ready to work with Hecate Energy and the Town of Copake to advance a solar project that respects and protects Copake.
Sincerely,
Sensible Solar for Rural New York
Mr. Chris Bullinger
President and CEO, Hecate Energy
621 West Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60661
Dear Mr. Bullinger,
Understanding Hecate Energy’s intention to submit a 94-C application to New York State’s Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) for your proposed Shepherd’s Run solar facility in Copake and Craryville, NY, Sensible Solar for Rural New York urges you and your colleagues to take critical and immediate steps to make the project right for and respectful of Copake and its residents.
Sensible Solar for Rural New York is a citizen-led, nonpartisan coalition that represents more than 4,000 residents of Copake and Columbia County who oppose your 60-megawatt Shepherd’s Run solar facility as currently proposed. Like Hecate Energy, Sensible Solar for Rural New York strongly supports our nation’s and New York State’s commitment to addressing climate change through the expansion of renewable energy. However, the siting and development of large-scale solar and wind projects must not advance at the detriment of rural communities – both must be given equal consideration and weight. Unfortunately, your proposed Shepherd’s Run solar facility would adversely impact Copake’s protected natural resources, farmland, wildlife habitat, rural viewsheds, property values, and agriculture- and tourism-dependent economy for decades, if not forever. Furthermore, your proposed Shepherd’s Run remains in direct conflict with the Town of Copake’s Comprehensive Plan and Farmland Protection Plan – both blueprints for ensuring a vibrant and sustainable Copake for the future.
On your company’s website, Hecate Energy describes its corporate logo as evoking “the circle of trust shared by a company, its clients and the community when a power project is developed and operates with respect for the people it serves.” However, Hecate Energy refuses to sincerely and transparently work with Copake officials, Sensible Solar for Rural New York, and local land conservation, environmental and agriculture organizations to advance New York State’s renewable energy goals while protecting Copake and its natural resources, farmland, wildlife habitat, rural viewsheds and economy. In fact, Hecate Energy continues to decline the Town of Copake’s repeated requests for necessary information and data that would enable both parties to meet as required by the 94-C implementing regulations. Furthermore, Hecate Energy has yet to schedule the public meeting mandated by 94-C, yet homeowners in close proximity of the project site recently received written notice that Hecate Energy plans to submit its 94-C application on or around July 15, 2021.
While we recognize Hecate Energy has made attempts to reduce the footprint of the project, there is significantly more you can and must do to make this project work for Copake. If Hecate Energy is sincere in its pledge to be a trusted and respectful community partner then the residents of Copake and Craryville, the neighboring towns of Hillsdale and Taghkanic, and Columbia County, NY demand the following:
- Hecate Energy reconsider the scale and siting of its 60-megawatt Shepherd’s Run solar facility proposed for Copake and Craryville. Due to the protected streams, wetlands, forests and wildlife habitat located on the site, as well as the significant presence of prime farmland, the area’s hilly topography and its close proximity to the Copake Lake residential and recreational area, the site is not appropriate or conducive for an industrial-scale solar facility. As such, we urge Hecate Energy to identify an alternative site or downsize the project to smaller, community-scaled solar installations that adhere to Copake’s zoning law.
- Hecate Energy must work with the Town of Copake, Sensible Solar for Rural New York, Scenic Hudson, the Columbia Land Conservancy and expert landscape designers to develop and execute site, landscape and maintenance plans that respect and protect our rural landscape, scenic viewsheds and community character. By integrating traditional farm fencing, grass berms, minimal lighting, mature plantings, and thoughtfully-designed and well-maintained landscaping, a community-scaled solar installation has the potential to complement rather than desecrate its surroundings.
- Recognizing the negative impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on local tax revenue and the deleterious effect this project will have on nearby property assessments, Hecate Energy must commit to paying 100 percent of local, county and school taxes that account for the full value of both the land and solar infrastructure. We estimate combined Host Community Agreement and tax payments should exceed $20 million in the project’s first 20 years.
- Hecate Energy must reimburse abutting landowners and those in direct viewshed of the proposed solar project for the decreased value in their homes, farms and/or lands as a direct result of siting an industrial-scale solar facility in a densely-populated rural area. Using a formula developed by the University of Texas, we estimate homeowners and landowners near the project site will experience a cumulative loss of $18 million in property value.
- Lastly, Hecate Energy must make good on its stated pledge and work with the Town of Copake and local stakeholders in a sincere, trusting and transparent manner. It will remain impossible for the Town of Copake and Hecate Energy to find common ground without both parties sitting down to have meaningful discussions and negotiations, as well as both sharing a willingness to accept compromise.
As such, Sensible Solar for Rural New York urges Hecate Energy to postpone submission of its 94-C application for Shepherd’s Run, and instead spend the next three to six months working side-by-side with the Town of Copake to advance a solar project that is looked upon as a shared achievement for both Hecate Energy and Copake.
Absent a sensible, sound solution, the Shepherd’s Run project will surely be delayed for years as the Town of Copake, Sensible Solar for Rural New York and homeowners directly impacted stand ready to litigate the project in the New York State courts, as well as in the court of public opinion. This commitment of time and resources underscores just how strongly and passionately Copake and its residents feel about protecting our natural resources, farmland, wildlife habitat, viewsheds, property values, economy and most importantly, the future of our vibrant and growing rural community.
Thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration of our requests. Sensible Solar for Rural New York stands ready to work with Hecate Energy and the Town of Copake to advance a solar project that respects and protects Copake.
Sincerely,
Sensible Solar for Rural New York
