The concept of households subscribing to a solar farm is known as community solar and it can benefit energy use of municipalities too.
The Town of New Paltz will consider a partnership with Solstice Solar to give residents the opportunity to use solar energy without the expense of investing in and maintaining their own solar panels.
Jamie Ansorge and Jayne Lino told the town they have for-profit and non-profit operations with solar farms throughout the state, including the Hudson Valley.
Households can subscribe to a solar farm and get up to ten percent off their Central Hudson bill, giving them the opportunity to use clean energy without the initial expense of installing their own solar panels. It is also beneficial to renters or to homeowners who don’t have adequate sun exposure to make it viable.
Towns like Woodstock can partner community solar firms like Solstice Solar and get a $100 sign-on commission for every household who signs up with them. The money can be used by towns to fund other sustainable-energy projects.
“We worked with the Town of Gallatin and they decided to use it to solarize one of their parking lots,” said Jayne Lino of Solstice Solar.
The concept of households subscribing to a solar farm is known as community solar and it can benefit energy use of municipalities too.
Woodstock already has an agreement to purchase hydroelectric power, so a partnership with Solstice would be more of a benefit to residents, Supervisor Bill McKenna said.
Lino said she knows of no other community in the area that is participating.
“So if we were on board with this, we could be the first in Ulster County,” Councilman Reggie Earls said.
“Honestly the only thing that scares me is that I can’t see anything wrong with it,” McKenna said.
Lino said Woodstock could get signed up within a matter of weeks.
Town of Woodstock defends raises
Town of Woodstock officials are defending pay raises in the midst of a pandemic and cutbacks, saying they are deserved, especially considering the high cost of living.
“I was very disappointed that our elected officials took a pay raise. It’s just not the time to do it,” said Iris York, a frequent meeting attendee.
“People are struggling. It sets a bad example. I don’t think any of you would’ve been out on the street or couldn’t pay your bills if you didn’t have that raise and I just feel it just wasn’t right. Not at this time,” she said at the November 17 town board business meeting.
Councilwoman Laura Ricci asked York if she felt town employees deserved the raise, aside from her feelings about elected officials.
“If they still have their regular jobs, then I don’t know why they would need to get a raise, since they were still working,” York responded.
“Have you tried to eat in this town, Iris,” asked Councilman Lorin Rose.
“I cook a lot at home,” York said.
“Our employees are 98 percent tremendous,” Rose said. “You can come after me because I don’t do anything. What the hell do I need a raise for? But the town employees deserve everything they get.”
York said she was mainly targeting elected officials, who she felt should set an example.
“A lot of the elected officials make less than the town employees,” countered town clerk Jackie Earley.
“We need to be fair all over, but it is difficult for anybody in this temperature of Covid to deal with the cost of food and anything else. We’re all going through the same thing,” Earley said.
“I think the town did a good job with its budget. This town board really looked at it and we’re not raising anything. We all cut back, so I think a two percent raise is not a big deal.”
Supervisor Bill McKenna said he has made a lot of sacrifices himself, especially since the beginning of the pandemic.
“I used to have another business, but since this pandemic has started, I’ve been in this office, usually from 7 until 5,” he said.
“I’m almost always the first employee here and I’m typically the last one to leave. I’m also in on Saturdays and Sundays for a couple hours. I have not had a single vacation,” he added.
“My contracting business, I put it aside because the town needed me to get through this pandemic. Occasionally I will go and help my brother from time to time on weekends doing a couple little things, but I feel like I’ve sacrificed a lot for this community,” McKenna said. “And I love this community and I’m not complaining. But I don’t think a raise at this point was out of line for any of the board. You’re entitled to your opinion too, Iris. I respect that.”
Councilman Richard Heppner said he’d give back his raise if it came to it. “It’s not the money. That’s not why we do it,” he said.
Elected officials will receive a 2.25 percent pay raise as part of the 2021 budget.
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