Daniel Zuckerman is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Greene County Industrial Development Agency has chosen to back the town and village of Coxsackie in their opposition to a proposed 50-megawatt solar farm by denying the requested incentives from project developer Hecate Energy LLC. IDA representatives recently told officials and residents that if both the town and village do not want the project built, they will have the IDA’s support, IDA Executive Director Rene VanSchaack said. The decision was made at the IDA monthly meeting July 19. “The IDA kept its word and the board voted to inform Hecate we would not entertain IDA assistance because it’s opposed,” VanSchaack said. “The IDA, on all these large solar projects, has taken a neutral stance.” Van Schaack said the agency would support a rescaled and relocated project, assuming that Hecate is in agreement. “If they’re able to come back to the table with a project that is acceptable to the town, we would consider it,” VanSchaack said. “We are supportive of solar energy — it can have benefits if it’s in the right space.” No one from Hecate attended the IDA meeting. The company's proposal calls for the construction solar panels on 395 acres of the 933 it owns in the vicinity of Farm to Market Road. Both the village and town boards passed resolutions in early July opposing the project. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.