Thanks @davelucas for having me on this morning!
Great convo about solar and wind sprawl in New York State and how people can get active in defending their communities.
Appreciate anyone willing to listen to the facts about how commercial solar only converts at 15% of its annual potential in our climate. It’s not a fix for our grid. And our state government knows it.
Something unprecedented is happening in the world of ORES (Office of Renewable Siting) proceedings.
Montgomery County attorney Meghan M Manion is the first county attorney to be awarded a Protective Order for a project in the pre-application stage (Cow Bell Solar project in the Town of Florida).
What does a Protective Order do?
This allows Montgomery County access to the full, un-redacted project materials.
Of course, the developer and its law firm, Young/Sommer, don't like this. Young/Sommer enjoys nearly a total monopoly across ORES wind and solar projects. They are the law firm representing Boralex here at Fort Edward Solar as well.
As their attempt to fight this, Young/Sommer refused to provide the requested documents and unsuccessfully attempted to negotiate waiting until 60 days prior to the Notice of Intent.
Young/Sommer's objection stated:
"Requiring disclosure of confidential development information before a public decision to pursue an application could significantly undermine the financial investment involved in those activities and unnecessarily expose commercially sensitive information without any corresponding regulatory benefit."
Here is Meghan's response to a developer and its law firm trying to block a county from having access to documents that directly impact those living in and around the Town of Florida.
"The solar developer's dismissive personal opinion that Montgomery County "has no present need for these materials" is just as troubling as it is condescending. As a municipality and Participant, Montgomery County has a clear right to review these materials to determine if this project has the potential to impact local laws. It defies logic that the solar developer would make an argument that Montgomery County is not entitled to know information about a potential project proposed within its borders, when there are active discussions between the solar developer and New York State. The solar developer's deliberate and acknowledged tactic to make Montgomery County wait until the eleventh hour to know any details about a project is not only severely prejudicial but also raises clear due process concerns."
Meghan has had more legal courage than any county attorney on the scene here with ORES. I am constantly inspired by her and the tireless work she does for her county.
Montgomery County deserves access to un-redacted project materials. This is just common sense.
The fact that the foreign solar developers, their law firms, and ORES try and shield counties from these documents tells you just how crooked this process is.
Outside getting my secret garden🌻up and running for the summer! 😎 Hoping to finish it sometime tomorrow or Friday since I don't have much going on at the office as of now🤷🏼♀️. Although I'm open minded to changing my plans, I would be just as happy to finish it this weekend😉.
And while I'm reposting, please follow this lovely lady from Rochester who's account was just taken down AGAIN. The decoder ring isn't just for fun - the risk of being $u$pended is real. Let's help her get her follower count back up!
🚨 PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST NOW: "THE SAVE AMERICA ACT!
1. ALL VOTERS MUST SHOW PHOTO I.D. (IDENTIFICATION!).
2. ALL VOTERS MUST SHOW PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP.
3. NO MAIL-IN BALLOTS (EXCEPT FOR ILLNESS, DISABILITY, MILITARY, OR TRAVEL!).
4. NO MEN IN WOMEN’S SPORTS.
5. NO TRANSGENDER MUTILIZATION SURGERY FOR OUR CHILDREN."
Get it done. They CHEAT.