Balloon test to show sites of proposed solar farm arrays slated

TOWN OF ULSTER, N.Y. » A balloon test is scheduled for April 24 to show the locations of three solar farm arrays for the Landau Solar project proposed by Cypress Creek Renewables off of state Route 32.

The viewing will be for about two hours beginning at 3:30 p.m. on property overlooking Eddyville, as well as an area not far from the highway.

“It’s basically an opportunity to set balloons at the maximum height of the solar panels, which would be 12 feet,” Cypress Creek outreach manager Brian Stumpf said.

“We’ll set those up around the project area, and that will allow people an opportunity to see any of the balloons from the road,” he said. “That will be an indicator if there will be any visibility of any of the panels . ... We’ll have reference balloons, spotter balloons, set up higher so people know in which general area they can look.”

If weather adversely affects the balloons, the tests would be conducted April 25.

The proposal is for the installations to be placed on three sections of a 190.2acre property owned by Eddyville Corporation at 3040 state Route 32. There would be two installations on top of a ridge, while the third site will be about 200 feet east of the road.

Supervisor James Quigley said public comments about the proposed project have largely been focused on whether the panels would be seen from nearby properties.

“The predominant number of comments ... related to the visual affects of this project,” he said.

Quigley added that the application for town Planning Board approval will need to be resubmitted because there was missing information about zoning requirements. “We’ve had a discussion about a revised site plan application with attachments, because the scope of the actions had changed,” he said. “I believe the Open Development Area was left out of the original application ... so, in order for us to take any action, we need an updated application with the complete supporting document.”

Quigley said the balloon tests can be considered as part of the new application.

Among questions from residents has been whether Cypress Creek is serious about plans to have the site be a pollinator-friendly property by growing flowers that attract bees, butterflies and birds.

“It involves a seed mix that we can introduce as part of the landscape plan,” Stumpf said. “It’s a seed mix of wildflowers.”

Cypress Creek on its website notes that some of its solar arrays have included use of honey bee hives to assist with local crops.