Carly Miller is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Cairo Town Board unanimously decided April 2, to delay its vote on a proposed six-month ban of commercial solar farms following a public hearing on the subject. The decision came as a 2-megawatt project is under review by the Cairo Planning Board. The delay is intended to allow town board members to review and adjust the existing solar zoning law, including regulations for visual screening, lot coverage and land percentages. “The concern is whether or not the current design criteria and requirements in the zoning law would protect the town’s interest with regard to property development,” Town Supervisor Daniel Benoit said. “Hopefully, everyone will have had a chance to take a look at the zoning law and decide whether there’s enough existing protections or the changes will be simple enough to institute without a moratorium." During the public hearing, residents and board members debated a list of concerns, including decommission costs, fire safety and more. Residents remained divided during and after the hearing on the value of the potential moratorium and the benefits of solar farms for taxpayers. The moratorium was suggested when solar company Cypress Creek Renewables was considering four to five locations in Cairo, Benoit said. The issue was tabled until the May 7 town board meeting, but Benoit said a vote is not guaranteed. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.