Who Is "Sensible Solar for Rural New York"?

The Basic Facts

The "Environmental" Framing

SSRNY wraps itself in environmental language:

• "Protect our watersheds"
• "Preserve farmland"
• "Environmental concerns"
• "Rural character"

This framing is strategic. "We don't want solar panels near us" doesn't play as well as "We're protecting the environment."

The Tell: Real Environmentalists Support Solar

Every major environmental organization supports utility-scale solar as essential to climate goals:

• Sierra Club — Pro solar expansion
• NRDC — Pro solar expansion
• Environmental Defense Fund — Pro solar expansion
• Union of Concerned Scientists — Pro solar expansion
• NY League of Conservation Voters — Pro solar expansion

Real environmentalists understand that climate change is an existential threat and solar is one of our best tools against it. They don't oppose solar—they push for more of it.

The Pattern

SSRNY follows a predictable pattern of "environmental" opposition:

1. Use environmental vocabulary — watershed, farmland, ecosystem
2. Cite isolated incidents — like the Castleton brush fire
3. Inflate numbers — 700 acres (not 215)
4. Attack the developer — corporate problems = reject all solar
5. Propose no alternatives — just "not here"

This is NIMBYism with an environmental paint job.

The Demographics

The opposition skews toward:

• Long-time residents resistant to change
• Older demographic (leadership)
• Neighbors with direct sightlines to the project
• People who've seen their community change and don't like it

These aren't climate activists. They're using "environment" as a shield because general opposition to change isn't persuasive.

The Petition Trick

SSRNY claims nearly 3,000 petition signatures. Consider:

• Petitions driven by fear-based messaging (fire risk, industrial, etc.)
• Online signatures don't verify residency or understanding
• Clicking a button ≠ informed position
• Compare to actual engagement at hearings and ORES proceedings

"Quality of engagement matters more than quantity of signatures."

What They Won't Say

SSRNY doesn't:

• Propose alternatives — Where should Hudson Valley get clean power?
• Support other solar projects — It's always "not here"
• Acknowledge climate urgency — The state's legal requirements, the science
• Admit aesthetic concerns — The real issue: "I don't want to see panels"

Legitimate vs. Illegitimate Concerns

Our Position on Their Concerns

We're not pro-Hecate. We're pro-solar. When SSRNY raises legitimate concerns:

• Fire safety: Yes, Hecate should comply with all requirements
• School safety: Yes, evacuation questions deserve real answers
• Permit compliance: Yes, ORES should enforce conditions
• Developer stability: Yes, this matters for long-term commitments

If Hecate can't meet requirements, another developer can. The issue isn't this company—it's whether Hudson Valley will have local solar at all.

What's Actually Happening

A small group of change-resistant residents is using environmental language to block clean energy development. They:

• Don't represent mainstream environmental views
• Oppose solar while claiming to care about the environment
• Use procedural delays and fear tactics
• Claim to speak for "rural New York" while representing a handful of neighbors

This is change resistance dressed up as environmentalism.

The Real Environmental Position

"Real environmentalists don't oppose solar — they know it's essential to fighting climate change. When someone wraps 'no' in green language, ask who benefits from delay."

Sources

• NY Department of State nonprofit registration records
• SSRNY website
• ORES hearing transcripts and comment records
• Sierra Club solar policy
• NRDC renewable energy position