By Paul Post – Glens Falls Business Journal
Published December 16, 2024
An industrial brownfield site, vacant for 35 years, is being repurposed as a productive 6-megawatt community solar project.
The 44-acre former Ciba-Geigy property in South Queensbury borders the Hudson River, nestled between Perkins Recycling and the recently shuttered Glens Falls Cement Company plant.
While utilities and businesses are driving solar growth, community and commercial solar markets also saw gains, growing 12 percent and 44 percent year-over-year, respectively.
However, some proposed projects face community opposition over concerns about visual impact, property values, and rural character.
Tony DeFazio, founder of Glens Falls-based Sustainable PR, addressed these challenges at the New York Solar Energy Industry Association’s annual Solar Summit.
“New York’s transition to a clean energy will be won at the local level,” said DeFazio. “By proactively engaging communities and communicating the benefits of solar energy while addressing public concerns, only then will we accelerate the transition to a clean energy future.”
Read the full piece here
