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Town approves initial Central Hudson interconnection payment for Cookingham West community solar and funds engineering task order
Summary
The board approved an initial Central Hudson upgrade payment required for the town’s second community solar project (Cookingham West), authorized a $5,000 task order for engineering specs, and accepted a task-order to fund initial work; staff said the project has $275,000 in clean-energy grant awards to support the upgrade and construction.
The Red Hook Town Board on Jan. 14 authorized an initial payment to Central Hudson for an electric-system upgrade required to interconnect the town’s second community solar project at Cookingham West, and approved a task order not to exceed $5,000 for engineering specifications.
Supervisor Robert explained the interconnection upgrade estimate from Central Hudson is $48,129; the town is responsible for an initial deposit (25% per the coordinated electric system interconnection review) with the balance due later in the schedule. He said the project will be funded largely by clean-energy grant awards the town has accumulated through prior Clean Energy Communities participation—total grant awards for the project are approximately $275,000 (a $100,000 award and a $175,000 award referenced by staff).
The board also approved a task order for the town’s consultant (time-and-materials task order capped at $5,000) to prepare required technical specifications for procurement and interconnection. Engineering staff said the task order will use material from the CSERF (community solar) application and the Central Hudson study to produce final specs.
Why it matters: the town’s first community solar array (online Dec. 31, 2019) provided substantial savings to participating households; staff said the second array will offer a smaller but still meaningful discount under current PSC market rules and will provide predictable clean energy pricing for participants.
Board action: the board approved the interconnection initial payment and the engineering task order by voice vote; a separate task-order motion to authorize a $5,000 assignment to tie and bond for preparation of specs was also approved.
