Emilia Teasdale is reporting for The Columbia Paper the Kinderhook Town Board on February 7, approved a motion to support the Community Solar Campaign recently okayed by the Columbia County Board of Supervisors. The town plans to build on the county plan to offer solar energy to residents. Kinderhook’s plan is similar to what other municipalities in the county have adopted, but instead of the board or the Climate Smart Committee vetting solar companies the town will use the companies vetted and approved by the county. Community solar projects are an array of solar panels installed in a sunny, offsite location, which allows residents and businesses to benefit from solar if they cannot (or choose not to) install panels on their own properties. Participants in community solar projects get credits toward their electricity bill by subscribing to a local clean energy project. Once a town approves a provider of the community solar, the town can publicize the company and there are grants available for the municipalities for getting residents to sign-up. Kinderhook could be eligible for a $5,000 grant if 10 households sign-up for the program. The towns of Chatham and Austertlitz have started Community Solar programs, as well. At the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on February 9, the board approved a resolution to enter into an agreement with Astral Power and Nexamp. The resolution allows the county Climate Smart Community Task Force to initiate a campaign to publicize and promote Community Solar opportunities. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.