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KINGSTON, N.Y. — Two state senators representing parts of Ulster County are on opposite sides of a state bill that allows for incentives to spur the building of floating solar panels on waterways.
The bill has earned the support of state Sen. Michelle Hinchey, D-Saugerties, who voted in favor of it this week, and opposition from Sen. Peter Oberacker, R-Schenevus, who voted against it.
According to the bill’s language, it “directs state energy research and development authority to establish a floating solar incentive and education program to provide information and resources including technical assistance, access to industry standards, and financing available through the authority or other public or private sector sources, to municipalities, developers, builders, design professionals, and potential owners for the construction of floating solar.”
In order for the bill to be enacted, it will need approval by the Democratically controlled Assembly and the signature of Gov. Kathy Hochul, also a Democrat.
The bill also adds a new section to the Public Authorities Law to “establish a Floating Solar Incentive and Education Program, defining ‘floating solar’ as solar photovoltaic systems mounted on floating structures on bodies of water.”
“The program will provide information, technical assistance, access to industry standards, and financing resources to municipalities, developers, and other stakeholders,” the legislation stated
Oberacker, who represents the 51st Senate District and is running for the 19th Congressional District seat, said in a social media video posting that floating solar stations should not be on waterways.
He said farmlands have been targeted for solar projects and “now, they want to put them on our waterways. And just in time for beach season.”
“You’re no longer safe from Albany’s radical politicians, even in the water,” Oberacker said. “Guys, they just passed a bill today (Tuesday), which would create a new incentive program for floating solar projects on lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and canals across New York State. Seriously?”
“Farms are for food. Our waterways sustain us,” Obertacker said. “Neither should become the next target for Albany’s latest energy experiment.”
Hinchey, who represents the 41st Senate District, said in a statement that efforts to fund solar projects have worked elsewhere.
“Floating solar has been working in red states like Florida and Ohio – and in countries around the world – because it helps communities conserve water, produce clean energy and reduce development pressure in other areas, and are built in limited capacities,” Hinchey said. “If my colleagues on the other side of the aisle would like to help us protect clean water, the environment, and affordability for ratepayers, I encourage them to call on the Trump administration to stop paying foreign fossil fuel companies to extract our resources and reinstate the offshore wind projects here in New York.”
Hinchey added that “Republicans continue to push the narrative that they care about our natural resources, and yet they would have us frack for gas and extract oil at the expense of our waterways, our environment, and our climate — all while driving up utility costs for New Yorkers.”
“The state has protected the top prime soils in farmland from solar development, and I carry bills that I’ve prioritized for years to extend those protections and direct ORES and NYSERDA to build on parking lots, warehouses, and brownfields for clean energy development. I encourage my colleagues, like Senator Oberacker, to cosponsor them if they actually support that direction,” Hinchey said.
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