MAMAKATING — The Town of Mamakating will be taking their energy from a solar supplier moving forward, according to Town Supervisor Michael Robbins.

Last month, the Democrat reported of Meadow’s Independent Contractor Art Meier stopping by the town board meeting to share the benefits of enrolling in a local solar farm as part of NYSERDA’s NY-Sun initiative. 

He stated that should residents enroll, they will get an up to 5% discount on supply and delivery portions of their electric bill.

This signing up would have the town hop on local solar farms, with the town roughly saving an estimated (by Robbins) $425 per month and $5,100 per year on their Orange & Rockland (O&R) energy bill.

“We talked about it as a board. I think any way we can save money—especially with the O&R bills going up—that’s a good thing,” stated Robbins.

Councilman John Rufer asked if the town could “get out of it whenever they needed to,” which Robbins confirmed. With the contract being “non-binding”, Robbins stated that the town could get out of it should things not work out.

Deputy Supervisor Peter Goodman also reiterated Meier’s statements that anybody in the public could sign up (by contacting Art Meier (by phone at 845-500‑1135, or by email: meierenergymanagement@gmail.com).

In response to a clarification question asked by a resident, Goodman stated that Meadow is a supplier that gets their power from solar farms.

Robbins also offered copies with more information that attendees could take at the end of the meeting.

The motion to move forward with the application to apply for the O&R solar program was made by Councilman Gary Forthoffer and seconded by Rufer, with both men being in favor.

As an added note, Robbins asked Town Attorney Benjamin Gailey if, before they sign up for everything, the application was good. Robbins stated that he would send the application over the next day for review via email, which Gailey agreed to.