Advisory council schedules presentations on floating solar proposals for reservoir and Underhill Pond

The Hudson Conservation Advisory Council agreed to schedule presentations in February from two groups proposing solar installations on local water bodies, including panels sited on the city reservoir and a smaller pond known locally as Underhill Pond.

Council members said one group contacted the council to propose floating solar arrays on the reservoir and requested time to present. The project proponents were identified by meeting participants as seeking to address generation capacity while using surface water for floating photovoltaic systems. The council also expects a presentation from Troy of CLC (the applicant for the Hecate Solar Farm matter) in February.

Members discussed potential environmental trade-offs and data needs. One council member noted that floating solar can reduce open-water evaporation and that ecological monitoring reports should be requested; members asked the presenters to address impacts to aquatic ecosystems, changes in sunlight penetration, and any monitoring plans. The council also noted jurisdictional and ownership questions: the meeting emphasized that the city does not own some parcels discussed and that final siting and permitting will involve multiple agencies.

Council members did not take a formal vote but asked staff to schedule the presentations and prepare questions for the applicants, including requests for ecological monitoring, comparisons with degraded-land siting, and details on proposed footprint and expected energy production.

Ending: The council scheduled the presentations for February and will use them as an opportunity to gather technical information before considering any formal advisory recommendation.