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BUSTI – Busti residents still have questions regarding a long-discussed solar project at 1192 Orr St.
John and Karen Finson of Cowing Road recently sent a letter to the Busti Town Board expressing their concerns with wind and solar farms. The Finsons were invited to speak during a recent board meeting to further express their concerns. Ted Dames, senior project manager of Catalyze, the company that owns and operates the Orr Street facility, was also in attendance.
Karen Finson expressed concerns regarding solar parks, including the use of chemicals to control weeds, potential leakage, maintenance of the facilities and the effect such projects may have on surrounding properties and property values.
The Orr Street projects total 7.75 megawatts over two solar arrays. The installations are small enough not to fall under the state's fast-track status for projects over 25 megawatts through the Office of Renewable Energy Siting, and board members said there are few locations within the town where a large-scale solar project could be located due to zoning, parcel size, setbacks, interconnection requirements and other factors.
Dames said Catalyze is required to comply with the town’s rules and ordinances and that the site must be maintained according to the town’s specifications. Catalyze has an operations and maintenance agreement with QE Solar, a New Jersey-based company that will do some of the work at the site but will also contract with local companies, especially in the spring and summer.
Mrs. Finson asked if there would be toxic materials on the site when the project is no longer being used. Dames said there are no toxic chemicals in the Orr Street solar project. The most toxic item is mineral oil in the transformers. Dames said the company has a decommissioning plan approved by the town and engineers for removal of the facility at the end of its lifespan. He explained that the town also has a decommissioning bond in place should the Catalyze cease operations, with the amount reviewed periodically to account for inflation and costs.
Joel Seachrist, Busti town attorney, discussed screening requirements and stated that the permit provides for review of the foliage and screening after the facility has been operating for a period of time. Additional screening may be required if necessary to minimize visual impacts for neighbors of the solar projects. Questions were also raised regarding soil and water testing. Dames said there are no soil or water samples being taken in the area.
Board members also discussed the concerns of neighboring property owners regarding property values and the limitations on the town’s ability to deny a use that is permitted under the zoning code. It was explained that conditions may be placed on permits to make permitted uses more acceptable to neighboring property owners. Dames said Catalyze intends to leave the site in an appropriate condition at the end of the lease and to be a good neighbor.
The land, according to an application for a PILOT agreement with the county IDA, was classified as vacant/agricultural.
In June, Busti Town Board members approved moratoriums on commercial solar energy facilities, wind energy conversion systems and battery energy storage systems. All three moratoriums expire on June 30, 2027.
Town Board members also approved a certificate of occupancy for the solar project upon review and completion of the outstanding conditions and to release the road use agreement bond. Dames told board members that the necessary conditions had been satisfied and that the road was in as good or better condition than when construction began. Discussion was held regarding the access road for emergency vehicles. Erosion may require future maintenance, but Dames said the road was currently in good condition and accessible to emergency vehicles. Discussion was also held regarding installation of a Knox Box for fire department access. The appropriate Knox Box was to be installed on Sept. 1, with Dames telling board members the site was intended to remain secure and locked. Seachrist noted that two gates had previously been found unlocked. Dames acknowledged that this was an oversight and said the company intended to maintain a safe and controlled site.
Board members also discussed a pile of materials that had previously been located near the front of the property. Dames stated that the materials have been removed. Jeff Swanson, Busti code enforcement officer, was to inspect the Knox Box after installation and confirm that all conditions have been satisfied.