BY ADAM ATKINSON
North Country This Week

POTSDAM -- The Town of Potsdam Board has agreed to lease the former town landfill to a commercial solar energy company to build a 4.5 megawatt solar farm on 25 acres there.

The board passed a resolution approving the agreement with AC Power 13, LLC of New York City and Delaware at a Zoom session meeting Tuesday, June 21 following a public hearing on the issue.

AC Power focuses on constructing solar power farms on abandoned brownfields and closed landfills.

Town Clerk Cindy Golliber read a public comment emailed by Thomas Taylor who approved of the lease but cautioned about construction and installation of solar panels and other equipment at the site possibly compromising the clay landfill liner.

The email suggests that AC be held liable for any compromise of the liner at the site.

Other public comment came from Julia Armstrong, project development associate at YSG Solar in New York City.

"Much like AC Power LLC, I represent another solar developer based out of New York City. We are also interested in proposing a bid for the town of Potsdam and believe that we have a better offer to submit and would be able to provide information as far as pricing, and compensation in approximately two days," said Armstrong.

"We sent out RFPs with a deadline and within that deadline two companies responded," said Town Supervisor Ann Carvill. In October 2019, the town issued a request for proposals interested in leasing the land for construction of a solar facility at the closed municipal landfill. "I believe it will probably be the wish of the board to follow through with the company that we chose now."

"If that deal fell through for some reason, we would certainly want to hear from you," the supervisor said.

"You would not take any additional RFP proposals into consideration at this time?" Armstrong asked.

"I wouldn't because I think it would be unethical," Carvill said. "Because the company that we selected and have made contact with has spent money already on attorney's fees and have been in communication with our attorney over the whole matter. I would love if you had been in the initial category."

Armstrong responded that her company had only recently learned of the town's request for a lease proposal with a solar company.

"I just wanted to add that we had another organization in a similar boat and we had to turn them down, so I agree with Ann that it would be unethical for us to look into another proposal at this time," said Town Councilwoman Sarah Lister. Lister echoed Carvill's comment though that if the deal with AC were to fall through, that a proposal from Armstrong's firm would be welcomed.

The board also approved a two part State Environmental Quality Review Act assessment form for the lease arrangement and AC Powers proposal to construct a solar array at the site. Those forms are available on the town website at https://potsdamny.us/.

The lease arrangement with AC Power is now subject to a 30-day public referendum. Town residents can file a petition of signatures not less than 5 percent of the last total vote cast for state governor within the town within the 30-day time period. A valid petition would force the lease agreement to be placed on the ballot for vote in the fall.

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