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The Town of Hartwick board voted on March 9 to set a public hearing for a proposed six-month solar moratorium in response to a solar farm project being considered by Georgia-based SolAmerica. (Photo by Eric Santomauro-Stenzel)

Town of Hartwick Sets Public Hearing for Solar Moratorium

By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZELHARTWICK

After a contentious start to its new term of office, the Town of Hartwick board has found an issue to unify around: opposing a proposed solar farm.

At its regular meeting on Monday, March 9, town board members unanimously voted to set a March 20, 6:30 p.m. public hearing for a proposed six month solar moratorium, pending timely review by the Otsego County Planning Department and publication of notices in “The Daily Star.” The moratorium proposal comes in response to solar company SolAmerica seeking to build a 12.8-acre solar farm near the intersection of Greenough Road and Dobbs Hill Road.

Residents have been speaking out against the project since news of the company’s inquiries broke last month, including three public commenters at the Monday meeting. Opponents have cited noise, visual impact, potential environmental impacts and proximity to residential properties.

SolAmerica has yet to file an official application for the project, which they estimated would create 2 MW of power from 5,568 solar panels. The company has said it would be responsible for construction, active use and deactivation, which would include returning what is now a field to its natural state at the end of use of the solar farm.

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