Community Involvement

Hecate Energy has been engaged with the landowners and community since 2016. We are proud of the progress we have made to enhance this vital clean energy project and will continue to work collaboratively with the local community on additional refinements.

Project Updates
The new Shepherd’s Run Solar Project proposal reduces the project’s nameplate capacity from 60 megawatts to 42 megawatts and reduces the fenced-in* area of the project to approximately 215 acres. The smaller project footprint is 43% of the 500-acre fenced-in area originally planned for the project. Based on local feedback, the new proposal will include an Agrivoltaics Integration Plan that provides for sheep grazing in two fenced array areas, totaling approximately 73 acres.
*Fenced-in area contains solar panels, inverters, transformers, and other facility equipment.

This is in addition to the long list of priorities included in the previous application:

  • Exclusion of battery storage from the project scope
  • Extensive native tree and shrub planting to minimize sightlines for neighbors
  • Support to extend/connect to local hiking trails or other passive recreational/educational opportunities
  • Conducting local fire departments and first responder training
  • Including pollinator species seed mix within the landscaping plan
  • Implementing a Net Conservation Benefit Plan for grassland birds to preserve more than 25 acres of additional habitat
  • Incorporating wildlife-friendly rural style fencing instead of chain-link fencing
  • Avoiding direct impacts to all state regulated Class I wetlands and developing a project with no net loss of wetlands
  • Committing to not source panels from suppliers who utilize forced labor or that contain the environmental contaminant PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)
  • Providing bidding opportunities to local suppliers and using local labor and purchasing when feasible

Timeline

2016-2019

Initial Outreach & Site Assessments

  • Hecate Energy approaches landowners in the vicinity of the Craryville substation, which has capacity to accept power from a solar farm
  • Project developers first present the preliminary concept of the project during the Town of Copake board meeting in April 2017
  • Hecate also conducts detailed studies to determine the viability of Copake solar farm site. These studies include:
    • Wildlife and wetland impact assessment Geotechnical investigations
    • Site surveys
    • Title report updates
    • Archeological studies
    • Electrical and civil engineering assessments
    • Landscape architecture review
    • Traffic studies

2020

Engaging Neighbors to Receive Feedback

  • Hecate Energy’s project developers meet with town officials to announce plans to file a siting application for a 60 MW project sitting on approximately 500 acres
  • Hecate Energy hosts two online open house sessions in June 2020

2021 - 2023

Applying Feedback to Improve Project

  • To address local concerns, Hecate Energy agrees to reduce the project size from 500 acres to 267 acres, of which 255 acres will be fenced-in, covering a little more than half of the original site plan. Changes are discussed in meetings with local officials and announced at a virtual open house held in April 2021
  • Hecate transfers its application to New York State’s new 94-c siting process operated by the Office of Renewable Energy Siting
  • Incorporating further community input, Hecate consolidates the project site to the area north of Copake to reduce visual impacts, reduces the fenced in area to 245 acres, and commits to wildlife friendly fencing
  • Hecate executives meet with town officials in mid-June to offer further plan revisions addressing community concerns
  • The Hecate team hosts an in-person Informational Open House event in Copake to explain the latest project improvements to the community and provide a forum to receive feedback
  • Hecate further reduces the fenced-in area to 220 acres
  • Hecate commits to evaluating project land for various agricultural co-uses, which may include areas of grazing or apiary use
  • Hecate incorporates concepts from local landscape architects into the Landscape Plan, which now includes approximately 11 acres of shrub and tree plantings

2024 - Forward

  1. Hecate Energy re-initiated the pre-application process with ORES in Q1 2024.
  2. Under the 2024 RES Solicitation from NYSERDA, Hecate Energy competitively applied for a new Tier 1 Contract.
  3. Hecate Energy submitted a new application to the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting for a siting permit in December 2024.
  4. This action represents the first step in the state’s permitting process, which encourages collaboration between energy project developers and host communities.