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After nearly six months of review and numerous public input sessions, the Dryden Town Board unanimously approved the site plan and special use permits for two community solar projects proposed by the solar company Sun8. These projects will produce 28 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 7,500 households, approximately the number of the households in the town.

Through a Special Use Permit, Sun8 will be allowed to construct three sets of solar arrays while the town makes sure that Sun8 complies with permit conditions that minimize the visual impact on neighbors. The visual screening and substantial setback requirements for these projects far exceed the law's requirements, and were imposed because the town board listened to community concerns and Sun8 responded to those concerns.

"We carefully considered and reviewed nearly 1,000 public comments. We're grateful that public input helped guide these projects," stated Jason Leifer, Dryden Town Supervisor.

Another benefit is that Sun8 will give Dryden residents an exclusive 30-day period to be the first to sign up for service. The Sun8 solar arrays are operated under a model that is called community solar, which means that the power generated is sold directly to customers at a 10 percent discount from NYSEG rates. "Access to solar energy—and the savings—should be available to people of all income levels. This project is a game changer for low and middle income folks looking to go green and cut their utility bills," stated Town Board member Kathy Servoss.

Unlike other options for residential solar, the Sun8 project does not require customers to buy solar panels. Sun8's business model is a community wide benefit because it makes renewable energy available to everybody regardless of their income level.

Other community benefits of Sun8's projects include an estimated $8 million dollars that will be contributed to the budgets for local schools, the county, and the town over the next 20 years. This new income will be produced as part of a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) instituted by the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency. Until now the land owned by Cornell was not taxed, and property at 2150 Dryden Road was producing a fraction of what will be produced under the PILOT. The proposed PILOT is for $8,000 per megawatt, which is well above the state average for solar PILOTs.

"We're constantly looking for ways to expand the tax base and provide relief to local property taxpayers. This project will provide a windfall in new revenue, not only for the town, but for the school districts and the county," stated Deputy Supervisor Dan Lamb. "This new income will help pay the costs of maintaining town infrastructure, such as bridges and the new rail trail we are building."

In addition, the land hosting the solar panels will remain in agricultural use because Sun8 has stated that it will control vegetation with sheep rather than pesticides, making this project another win for the environment. As an added bonus to NYSEG ratepayers, the electrical lines near the project areas will be upgraded with Sun8 covering the cost.

This project is expected to be the largest solar farm in Upstate New York. Under the leadership of Supervisor Jason Leifer and the entire Town Board, Dryden is attracting new business while leading the way in the march towards a clean energy future.

"The bottom line is that the community will truly benefit from this project," stated Leifer. "Our job is to fight for our residents and look out for the long term interest of the town. This unprecedented, substantial investment in our community makes our future brighter than ever."

Lamb added, "The result of this long process is an estimated $40 million investment in Dryden that increases jobs and economic development, democratizes the use of solar, and allows our town to take part in responding to the existential threat of global warming. Leadership is not coming from the federal level, but it's happening here, with the support of Dryden residents."

Town Board Member Deborah Cippolla-Dennis stated, "Dryden led New York State in the fight projects. We take the state's and county's goals for greenhouse gas emissions reduction seriously and we are committed to doing our part to meet them."

Town Board Member Linda Lavine stated, "This is a moment of generational change: a time for choosing our children's future over fear of new technology. With an image of my beloved grandmother in mind, I believe our ancestors, practical and hard working as they were, would have surely approved progress that makes our lives cleaner and less costly. I think we will all come to see this as ordinary with the passage of time."

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