Solar projects get pushback in 2 Jefferson Co. communities
TOWN OF LYME, New York (WWNY) — Planned solar projects are getting pushback near Chaumont and Black River.
Two separate solar projects would take up a total of 2,500 acres in the town of Lyme. Town officials worry that it will negatively affect property value, tourism numbers, and residents’ health.
“We’re not against solar, but we do want these projects to be responsible projects, and to consider the town and what we are. We are a resort town,” said Jim Millington, town supervisor.
One project is called Riverside, the other, Bay Breeze — projects by developer AES.
The state has already approved the Riverside project, bypassing the town, which didn’t have a local solar law in place yet.
That means the project is likely to move forward somewhere along Case Road in or near Chaumont, something Lyme’s Concerned Citizens for Responsible Solar Group hopes to change for the other project, Bay Breeze.
“Our first task was to assist the town of Lyme board with a replacement to the current local law and replace it with something that is more up to date,” said Bill Kleftis, group chairman.
The town now has a solar moratorium in effect through October. That suspends any work on the projects for now.
Kleftis says the intent isn’t to stop the Bay Breeze project, just to make it more responsible by factoring in the town’s concerns, local wildlife, and the area’s aesthetics.
Lyme isn’t the only place where a solar project is being proposed and opposed. In the village of Black River, they’re dealing with a very similar situation.
New Leaf Energy’s Honey Ridge solar project is proposed near State Route 3 in the village, near the Black River trail.
Black River’s mayor says they’re also concerned about property value, tourism numbers, and residents’ health, which led the village to send a letter to the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency and the solar company, saying the company is breaking the village’s local law.
“I also feel that Jefferson County has enough solar farms in it. I think they’ve done more than their fair share. I think they need to look at another area because we don’t want it here,” said Black River Mayor David Leonard.
Black River says it won’t grant variance permission for New Leaf Energy to use the land.
Lyme’s Concerned Citizens Group says it will hold an informational meeting on June 30th to keep the community informed on the projects there.
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