Diane Valden is reporting for The Columbia Paper the newly established Sensible Solar for Rural New York coalition is a group of Columbia County residents opposed to the proposed Shepherd's Run solar installation slated for construction in Craryville. In an October 11 press release the coalition claims that Hecate’s “planned industrial-scale solar installation will have long-term, devastating effects on our rural community and region, including loss of prime farmland and valuable natural resources such as the Copake Watershed, Taghkanic Creek and protected wetlands; displacement of native and endangered wildlife and birds; degradation of rural viewsheds; decrease in property values; and more. ...” Hecate's plan calls for the installation of 200,000 solar panels on 500 acres near the county Route 7 and state Route 23 intersection on land currently used for farming. Sensible Solar for New York Director Darin Johnson said the coalition believes the proposal would have a long-term negative impact on the waterways, in particular. The proposed site is in close proximity to the Rehinstrom His Audubon Center and Sanctuary. The coalition contends that, “A solar installation of this magnitude necessitates slow, deliberate and thorough impact review and open discourse by our community.” The Copake Town Board will conduct a special virtual meeting to discuss the proposed Shepherd’s Run solar installation at 7 p.m., October 28, via Zoom video-conference. Information is available at townofcopake [dot] org. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.