FORESTBURGH – A large crowd gathered to voice concerns about the proposed Town Line Solar project at the monthly Forestburgh Town Board meeting on Thursday night.

The proposed large-scale renewable energy project would span portions of Forestburgh and Thompson.

Town Supervisor Dan Hogue emphasized that the project is not currently before the Forestburgh Town Board for approval. The application is being reviewed through the state’s Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES), which has authority over major renewable energy projects.

Forestburgh, Thompson and Sullivan County have joined together to seek intervenor funding to hire legal and engineering professionals to review the application. Hogue said the municipalities are seeking up to $200,000, with additional funding potentially available, to examine environmental, engineering and legal concerns.

Residents questioned the project’s potential impact on forests, groundwater, stormwater runoff, and surrounding properties. Bill Sipos, a vocal opponent of the project, said he would continue fighting against the proposed development.

“You take away our environment, you take away our air, you decimate the woods and you want us to stare at solar?” he said to the board. He concluded with, “you take the forest out of Forestburgh, then what’s left?”

Another resident, Joanne Jasper, questioned the absence of local elected representatives from the discussion. “As the public, we’re doing our part, where are our legislators?” she asked. “Why should it be just the public when we’ve had these elected officials that should be helping us as well?”

Scott Mace, Supervisor of the Town of Thompson, also addressed the crowd and said Town Line Solar representatives are expected to attend Thompson’s Aug. 18 meeting. He encouraged residents to attend and voice their concerns while remaining respectful. “Please just be respectful,” Mace said, noting that the meeting could end if conduct became disruptive.

Forestburgh officials also said they would look into reports from residents alleging that land clearing connected to the project may already have occurred in Forestburgh. Hogue encouraged residents to continue making their concerns known while allowing the legal and environmental review process to move forward. He said the three entities are working together to examine the application and identify questions or deficiencies that may require answers.

In other news, the Forestburgh Town Board appointed Karen Ellsworth to fill a vacant council seat that became vacant following the resignation of Councilman Steve Budofsky, who relocated out of state. The board voted to appoint Ellsworth, who previously served on the board and had run for the position in the past, to serve the remainder of Budofsky’s unexpired term.