Log in Subscribe

Harnessing the sun in Tusten

New solar array this year

Patricio Robayo - Staff Writer
Posted 4/18/19

NARROWSBURG — A new solar array will soon call Tusten home after the County of Sullivan Industrial Development Agency (IDA) approved a leaseback agreement at their monthly meeting on Monday, April …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Harnessing the sun in Tusten

New solar array this year

Posted

NARROWSBURG — A new solar array will soon call Tusten home after the County of Sullivan Industrial Development Agency (IDA) approved a leaseback agreement at their monthly meeting on Monday, April 8.

According to the application submitted by NY Tusten I, LLC—which will be managed by Delaware River Solar (DRS) — they have also applied for up to $100,000 in tax abatements.

The new 1.96-megawatt commercial solar array will be located between Woodoak Drive and Arena Court and will be built by DRS at the cost of $4.7 million with $1.69 million provided by private funds according to the application.

The 29 acres land for the solar array will be leased from Homeland Farms, LLC—which is owned by Ned Lang, former Tusten Councilman and owner of a franchised Roto-Rooter in Narrowsburg near the site.

“DRS appreciates the continued support of the IDA,” said DRS's CEO Rich Winter. “The PILOT program for solar, pioneered and first developed in Sullivan County, has been copied statewide. It allows for projects like DRS's to secure critical long term, third-party financing.”

As stated in the IDA application, the project looks to create an estimated 20 construction jobs.

The project is currently under development with ongoing surveying and engineering according to the application.

“DRS is excited to break ground in the next few months on this 2.7 mwdc project in the Town of Tusten,” said Winter. “The energy from this array will power 400 homes for the next 30 years and will continue the drive toward sustainability that is a core focus of the Town. We very much appreciate the support of the Supervisor, the Town, and Planning Boards and the local residents. This is DRS's sixth project in our home county.”

DRS stated the construction is to last three to four months and hopes to finish by the fall of this year.

The solar company is applying for $100,000 worth of tax breaks—$70,000 in sales tax exemption and $30,000 in mortgage tax exemption.

Once installed, DRS promises to reduce energy costs to the surrounding community if they subscribe to Delaware River Solar.

After the solar array is up and running, DRS says it will have around four part-time contractor posititions for maintenance and landscaping, according to the application.

The IDA will see four more solar array applications come before them soon, all of them in the Town of Delaware.

As a whole, the new solar arrays in the Town of Delaware will be asking for $400,000 worth of sales and mortgage tax exemption.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here