Abby Hoover is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Copake Town Board is considering a resolution in opposition to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s state budget amendment that would create the Office of Renewable Energy Siting. The amendment was drafted with the intention of moving the state more quickly toward the goal of obtaining 70 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The Copake board's opposition is based on a fear that the new state agency would take away local control over renewable energy projects. The proposed amendment was introduced in a manner that effectively precludes municipalities from analyzing and commenting on proposals, such as the one put forward by Hecate Energy in Copake. The 700-acre project, Shepherd’s Run, is slated for areas of pasture on Route 23 and Route 7 in the hamlet of Craryville, connecting to the existing substation. As proposed, Shepherd’s Run exceeds the town of Copake’s 10-acre limit on utility-scale solar energy systems. In its resolution, the Copake board asserted its opposition to “...the proposed budget amendment and any attempts to diminish Copake’s authority to establish and enforce its land-use regulations.” Town Supervisor Jeanne Mettler said the resolution will be discussed at the March 12 board meeting. Public comments will be heard at that time as well. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.