Community Involvement

The Hecate Energy team working on Shepherd’s Run Solar Farm has engaged with the Copake community for more than four years to understand issues of concern and incorporate suggested improvements. 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

Permitting Process

  • Hecate Energy will submit a new application to the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting for a siting permit in July 2024
  • This action represents the first step in the state’s permitting process, which encourages collaboration between energy project developers and host communities


Community Suggestions and Hecate Energy's Commitments

Suggestions Commitments
Improvements to siting, ecology, and landscape surrounding the solar panels Hecate’s draft landscaping plan is extensive, and will continue to be developed during the 94-c permitting process.
  • During this process, Hecate will work with the community, under mutually agreed parameters, in order to incorporate design suggestions with Hecate’s schedule, budget and other business objectives..
Agricultural crops, grazing and native pollinator-friendly plantings in the solar fields. Hecate has already included pollinator species seed mixes and plantings within its draft landscaping plan. Hecate has also included sheep grazing within its existing plan.
  • Hecate commits to establishing an initial fenced in panel array as the pilot agrivoltaics trial. Hecate will engage experts in agrivoltaics to develop a plan based on local conditions, desired outcomes, and best practices.
Wetlands restoration and creating new community-accessible green spaces Hecate has protected the wetlands and streams of state and federal significance in the project’s design.
  • Hecate will work with community representatives to fine tune how a community green space program can be facilitated.
Responsible sourcing of panels/equipment U.S. Customs procedures include inspections of goods and documents to prohibit products produced using forced labor, including requiring paperwork and evidence showing avoidance of Xinjiang materials, where non-compliant polysilicon is sourced.
Local hiring and purchasing Hecate Energy commits to providing opportunities to local suppliers and hiring and purchasing local where feasible.
Local energy benefits – Low-cost renewable energy electricity purchasing for local residents Hecate introduced the concept of forming a local CCA for Columbia County and beyond to participate in lower electricity rates by purchasing power directly from the project.
  • Hecate commits to continuing this work with the aim of contracting to sell its generated power through a power purchase agreement to the properly structured and established CCA.
Educational and workforce programs with Taconic Hills Central School (THCS) Hecate began conversations with the Taconic Hills Central School District in early 2021 about many programs Hecate will commit to develop with the schools collaboration.
  • Hecate commits to facilitate or fund these programs to meet the THCS’s objectives.
Full property tax payments for the county, town and school district Hecate will pay the town, school and county an estimate $5-7 million over the 20 year contract term. These figures were developed on utility scale project comparables across the state.
  • Hecate commits to enter into earnest negotiations on Host Community Agreements for the Town and School if a 94-c permit is received.
Fair compensation to impacted homeowners Hecate has created site specific buffers for families that are uniquely impacted. Hecate has also implemented setbacks in accordance with the Copake town law and the 94-c Regulations.
Local enforcement of community benefits The project’s operating company will be responsible for implementing the provisions of the 94-c permit, if received. As Hecate commits to the provisions suggested by the community, the 94-c permit will outline those requirements in the permit conditions.
Blueprint for future renewable energy projects in New York and nationally Hecate commits to this and hopes it becomes a model for the future in New York and nationally
Find new locations to relocate solar panels off of the 40-acres of existing forested land proposed for clear-cutting and where selective panel removal is required to create configuration for grazing and crop farming beneath/between panels. Hecate has committed to include approximately 800 trees and 800 scrubs in the Project’s landscaping plan. Hecate will perform a detailed greenhouse gas calculation to show the net benefit of installing the Project and how long it will take to negate the loss of the ~29 acres of tress the Project needs to remove. Hecate will ensure best practices are used during the tree/scrub clearing process.
Redesign landscaping plan to complement the existing surroundings. Hecate’s draft landscaping plan will be further refined during the 94-c permitting process.
  • During this process, Hecate will work with the community, under mutually agreed parameters, to marry design suggestions with Hecate’s schedule, budget and other business objectives.
Engage a consultant to advise on site design and best practices for agrivoltaics; Identify and engage potential crop and grazing partners; and ensure that design submitted to ORES establishes robust, agrivoltaic plans for the life of the project. Hecate has already included pollinator species plantings within its draft landscaping plan. Hecate has also included sheep grazing within its existing plan.
  • Hecate commits to establishing an initial fenced in panel array as the pilot agrivoltaics trial. Hecate will engage experts in agrivoltaics to develop a plan based on local conditions, desired outcomes, and best practices.
Determine how Shepherd’s Run can contractually sell bulk electricity to Consumer Choice Aggregate (CCA) programs to be formed by Copake and other Columbia County region towns. Hecate introduced the concept of forming a local CCA for Columbia County and beyond to participate in lower electricity rates by purchasing power directly from the Project.
  • Hecate commits to continuing this work with the aim of contracting to sell its generated power through a power purchase agreement to the properly structured and established CCA.
Facilitating Rail Trail extension through the project site Hecate will work with the community and HVRT to facilitate this important connection Hecate will work with the community and HVRT to facilitate this important connection
Tailoring landscaping & plantings for integration with larger plan Hecate’s draft landscaping plan will be further refined during the 94-c permitting process.
  • During this process, Hecate will work with the community, under mutually agreed parameters, in order to marry design suggestions with Hecate’s schedule, budget and other business objectives.
Supporting research/agricultural partner access within fences
Enabling community access through and within buffers . Depending on private landowner feedback and the burden of liability
Supporting agrivoltaics throughout As stated above, Hecate will include an agrivoltaics pilot project on a fenced in array. The Project’s operating company can expand when timing and resources make sense.
Funding education programs for Taconic Hills Central School Hecate began conversations with the Taconic Hills Central School District in early 2021 about many programs Hecate will commit to develop with the schools collaboration.
  • Hecate commits to facilitate or fund these programs to meet the THCS’s objectives.
Making tax and homeowner payments Hecate has created site specific buffers for families that are uniquely impacted. Hecate has also implemented setbacks in accordance with the Copake town law and the 94-c Regulations.
Enter into low-cost power purchase agreement with local CCA or similar Hecate introduced the concept of forming a local CCA for Columbia County and beyond to participate in lower electricity rates by purchasing power directly from the Project.
  • Hecate commits to continuing this work with the aim of contracting to sell its generated power through a power purchase agreement to the properly structured and established CCA.