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Gwendolyn Craig
Policy Reporter
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Last week the Adirondack Park Agency approved a 20-megawatt solar project on the former Benson Mines's tailings pile in the Town of Clifton. It is the state's first "build ready" solar project. There are still a handful of other permits the state needs to acquire before it can hold an auction and turn the project over to a solar developer. But, it looks like the Adirondacks is one step closer to hosting a large renewable energy project.
I want to apologize, in my last newsletter I said this was the largest ever solar project proposed in the park. It is the largest, but I had neglected in my original reporting to note that commissioners approved a 20-megawatt solar array in Ticonderoga last year. So, this is the same number of megawatts, but the Benson Mines project is the largest footprint and will have more solar panels. I've updated our coverage online and made note at the bottom to include the Ticonderoga project.
Here's the latest APA coverage:
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This view to the west toward Star Lake near Jones & Laughlin Steel Co. entrance shows the proposed solar project site across State Route 3 (on the left) from the former ore processing site known as Benson Mines. The pond on the right is the former pit, now flooded. Photo by Tom French
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APA approves 20-megawatt solar array in Clifton
The Adirondacks is one step closer to hosting the state’s first “build ready” solar project, about 62,000 panels generating 20 megawatts of energy to the grid, from the tailings pile of an old mine in the Town of Clifton. It’s enough solar panels to power about 4,500 homes, the state has said.
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Last week, commissioners approved Lyme Timber Co.'s application for tree harvesting. They also approved changes to inter-agency guidelines on invasive species management. Here's a story about those items:
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This shows some of the larger trees that will be harvested on Lyme Timber Co. lands in Lake Pleasant. The process of growing trees under older trees is, and then removing the older trees, is called shelterwood removal. Photo courtesy of the Adirondack Park Agency
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APA approves 824-acre timber harvest in Hamilton County
The Adirondack Park Agency unanimously approved 824 acres of timber harvesting in the Perkins Clearing Tract, lands owned by Lyme Timber Co. in the Town of Lake Pleasant.
The Hamilton County tract comprises 14,379 acres and falls under a state working forest conservation easement. The APA has jurisdiction over the project because it involves clear-cutting more than 25 acres. Aaron Ziemann, a project analyst for forest resources at the APA, said the project was brought to the full board because the harvest area was greater than 500 acres.
The Adirondack Council submitted a letter against the project, and was the only commenter. Jackie Bowen, director of conservation, wrote that the harvesting seemed “at odds” with the state Climate Action Council’s recommendations.
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Fee activities for kids of all ages at the Adirondack Harvest Festival this Saturday, September 24 from 12-5pm at the Essex County Fairgrounds! Including, storytime and brushing with Zelda the therapy mini-horse, watercolor painting and tye-dying with natural dyes, making pollinator-friendly wildflower seed balls, face painting, pony and wagon rides, hula-hoop contest, and so much more.
Learn more..
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Dave and I hiked this weekend up Hadley Mountain in Warren County. At just under four miles round trip, it is a nice "short" hike--but I also forgot how steep it is. We haven't been hiking as much lately, so it was a good climb to get us back at it. The leaves are starting to change. The temperatures felt cool in the low 60s. Autumn is almost here. The last time we did this hike, the top of the fire tower was closed. This time it was open, and it was quite the scary shimmy getting in and out of the hatch. I am pretty good with heights, but this section gave me the heebie jeebies! There are some beautiful views from the fire tower, though, of the surrounding mountains and Great Sacandaga Lake.
I used Cornell University's Merlin Bird ID app on my phone, too, and found so many songbirds on the summit. We could use both the visual and auditory parts of the app to identify them. We heard and saw ruby-crowned kinglets, dark-eyed juncos, yellow-rumped warblers, black-capped chickadees and possibly heard a Cape May warbler. While up at the top of the fire tower, a hawk flew by, by I couldn't quite identify it. We are thinking it might have been a sharp-shinned hawk or a Cooper's hawk.
There are a couple of journals at the top of the tower, and it was so nice to see them filled with notes about people's experiences on the hike. Kids participated, too, with drawings or with words of wisdom. For example, Bryce wrote, "It is not easy but it is a great view. You can make it fun, just like me."
Below are a few pictures of our trip. Have a great rest of your week!
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