San Diego, California-based EDF Renewables is seeking to construct a 350 Megawatt Photo voltaic and 20 MW Battery Storage venture within the City of Columbia. The venture has generated opposition from the group, and organizational teams akin to Shield Columbia have voiced their considerations. Shield Columbia Organizer Nathan Seamon talks in regards to the teams’ objectives.
“Our group is about defending Columbia. Because it stands the proposed Columbia Photo voltaic Undertaking consists of two,200 acres of land that hosts photo voltaic panels, together with a possible battery storage system. 2200 hectares equals 10% of the city’s land.”
The group had environmental considerations in regards to the venture, however noticed an even bigger concern.
“The Metropolis of Columbia is generally a dairy farming and crop land space, and to take 2200 acres of cultivated acres and pasture land right now with meals provide and elevated prices of meals considerations. That could be a severe concern for us.”
Anti-Columbia Photo voltaic indicators are scattered across the City of Columbia, however the fact is that native municipalities now not have the authority to cease giant photo voltaic. That is as a result of lawmakers in Albany handed Article 94, which supplies New York’s Workplace of Renewable Vitality authority over bigger photo voltaic farms. Meaning native municipalities don’t have any jurisdiction over photo voltaic tasks that produce greater than 25 megawatts of energy.
“Article 94c was an actual recreation changer that the State signed into regulation in 2019, and that actually took dwelling rule off the desk for any venture that was sufficiently big to be moved to 94c, and that is an actual concern for small cities. like Columbia.”
Regardless of the State’s authority, lots of of residents plan to oppose the proposed venture.
“Now we have lots of of individuals throughout the metropolis and surrounding cities supporting our efforts, and that is a kind of conditions the place it isn’t over till it is over. There are plenty of technicalities that should be handled. We’re working with the authorized experience to assist us although the method.”
EDF has already acquired lots of of acres of land, however has not submitted a allow to New York State till now.
