TOWN OF ULSTER, N.Y. >> The Town Board will be the lead agency for the review of solar power arrays proposed for a site on state Route 32.
Cyprus Creek Renewables/Landau Solar wants to put three arrays, each producing 2 megawatts of electricity, on part of a 190-acre property owned by Eddyville Corp.
The site straddles the road in the area of 3040 Route 32.
Town Supervisor James Quigley said that the application calls for more than 25 percent of the property, including an area that overlooks the hamlet of Eddyville, to be covered by solar panels but that efforts are being made to minimize the visual impact.
“For all intents and purposes, we’re looking at probably 50 to 60 acres of solar panels on the side of the mountain,” Quigley said. “If they follow the instructions of the Town Board, and they have so far, they will be focusing on putting these solar panels in areas that have been previously disturbed by industrial activities that were previously conducted at the site.”
The property was used as quarry into the 1970s. Eddyville Corp. sought to resume mining there in 2001, but the town ultimately rejected the request and adopted zoning that barred mining at the site.
“I look at this as an opportunity to reclaim a damaged piece of mountainside,” Quigley said of the solar energy project.
Other government bodies have 30 says to challenge the Town Board designating itself lead agency in the solar power review, but Quigley said he doesn’t expect any objections.
