There’s a new location for the state’s October 9 public hearing on Rock District Solar:
The Holiday Inn Express, Schoharie—not SUNY Cobleskill.
The time is the same—6pm—as is the format, said Carlisle Supervisor John Leavitt after making a couple of phone calls.
There was concern that the venue change was an indication the Office of Renewable Energy Siting hearing, one of the last steps in likely permitting the Carlisle and Seward project, would mean a switch to one-on-one conversations at “displays.”
But Mr. Leavitt said he’s been assured those attending will still get their time at the mic.
The hearing was moved after the SUNY Cobleskill site became unavailable, Mr. Leavitt said; the Holiday Inn was the only place big enough to fit the expected crowd.
The hearing will be held in front of an Administrative Law Judge, Mr. Leavitt said; project developer Cypress Creek will have no role in the hearing, but will be on hand to answer any questions.
Mr. Leavitt said depending on how many people show up to speak, they could be given more than the required three minutes.
Speakers can also yield their time to someone else, he said.
If there are more speakers than can be reasonably accommodated, they might not get to speak.
The proposed project is a 20-MW facility with parts of it in both towns.
Cypress Creek filed its application with ORES on April 18, 2023 after removing it from local review.
It was deemed complete by ORES in June; on August 5, ORES issued a draft permit, starting the clock on the public hearing and a final decision.