On December 14, 2020, the Columbia County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) is meeting to consider providing Illinois-based Hecate Energy with a massive tax break in the form of a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT). What does this mean, and why is a PILOT bad for Copake and Craryville, Columbia County and the Hudson Valley?
 
Hecate Energy is seeking New York State approval to build a 500-acre, industrial-size solar facility in Craryville and Copake, which violates the Town of Copake’s zoning laws, and is in direct conflict with the Town of Copake’s 2011 Comprehensive Plan and 2014 Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan. On October 28, 2020, the Copake Town Board unanimously passed a resolution strongly opposing the solar project, and to date more than 1,200 residents have signed a Change.org petition in opposition.
 
Under New York State statute (Article 10), renewable energy developers are automatically exempt from paying property taxes on solar and wind projects for 15 years UNLESS town, county and school board officials vote to opt out of the exemption. In our case, both the Copake Town Board and the Taconic Hills Central School Board voted to require Hecate Energy to pay full property taxes on their proposed solar project – meaning the full value of the leased land AND the assessed value of the solar facility’s infrastructure which is estimated to be in the neighborhood of $50 million. Sensible Solar for Rural New York is currently asking the Columbia County Board of Supervisors to also opt out of the tax exemption with respect to county property taxes, or alternatively, impose a PILOT equal to full county property taxes on Hecate Energy’s solar project.  
 
However, ALL actions by our local elected officials could be UNDONE if the Columbia County IDA uses its authority to negotiate a PILOT in an amount LESS THAN full property taxes with Hecate Energy. Such an action would automatically override the Town of Copake and Taconic Hills Central School’s previous actions to opt out of the exemption. We cannot allow unelected officials at the Columbia County IDA to put the interests of an out-of-state developer before the interests of homeowners, farmers, business owners and local elected officials in Copake and Craryville! 
 
The Columbia County IDA should NOT allow Hecate Energy to pay tens of millions of dollars less in town, county and school taxes. If this project is built, it is imperative that Hecate Energy PAY 100 PERCENT of local, county and school taxes. In no uncertain terms should the Columbia County IDA give any tax breaks to an out-of-state renewable energy company, especially at a time when county and local budgets are fragile due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

TAKE ACTION | Before the Columbia County IDA’s December 14th meeting, it is imperative that you communicate your strong opposition to the Columbia County IDA board members, as well as the Columbia County Board of Supervisors.

1. Write or email the IDA board members – click here to access template letters and addresses below.

2. Email copies of your communications to the IDA board members to the Columbia County Board of Supervisors.

3. Ask your family, friends, neighbors and colleagues to also write the Columbia County IDA and Board of Supervisors.

4. Write and send a letter to the editor of the Columbia Paper and Albany’s The Times Union