Nancy Kern reports for Columbia-Greene Media that the Town of Athens Zoning Board of Appeals has rejected Freepoint Solar’s request for a variance to build a 43.4-acre solar farm on Potic Mountain in an area zoned residential. Athens resident Margaret Muenkel was part of a group opposing the project, and she said, “It’s good for Athens. It’s good for everybody. Trees should not be killed to save the world. We can find better ways of protecting the environment and not hurt the environment at the same time.” The board, though, had given the proposal a negative declaration under the state environmental quality review and Peter Ford, managing director of Freepoint Solar, said they would appeal the decision. The Zoning Board previously ruled against Freepoint in September 2021. Then, a court directed the Athens Board to consider the variance application under the public utility standard as established by the case Con Ed Co. of NY v. Hoffman. In June, the Town Board passed a six-month moratorium on all solar applications. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.