Ulster County committee clears Paradis Lane solar project, funds design and approves contract
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Summary
The Energy, Environment & Sustainability Committee reclassified the Paradis Lane solar proposal under SEQRA, established Capital Project 747 for a 200 kW installation with a $340,000 budget, and approved a $334,616 contract with Amaresco Inc.; the actions passed by voice vote.
The Ulster County Legislature’s Energy, Environment & Sustainability Committee on April 13 approved a package of measures to advance a solar installation at the county Government Operations Center on Paradis Lane in New Paltz. Committee members reclassified the project under New York State’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) to a Type 1 action, established capital project 747 to design and construct approximately 200 kilowatts of ground‑mounted and roof solar arrays, and approved an accompanying contract with Amaresco Inc.
Legislator Nolan said the reclassification was necessary because the proposed arrays are adjacent to a property eligible for listing on the state and national historic registers and that, as a Type 1 action, the county must complete a formal SEQRA checklist and coordinated review with other agencies. "This is appropriate given the location of the project," Nolan said. The committee adopted Resolution 171 to make that change.
Resolution 172 establishes capital project 747 with an initial total cost estimate of $340,000 to design and construct the system. Committee members said the plan reflects a reduced scale from earlier proposals and will rely in part on federal and state tax credits; a bond will be required to finance the county’s share. Legislator Stewart described the plan as decentralized, combining ground‑mounted and roof installations, and said the approach avoids an "overbuilt" utility‑scale installation.
The committee also approved Resolution 174, authorizing the county to execute a $334,616 contract with Amaresco Inc. (Department of Public Works) related to project work. All three resolutions were adopted by voice vote during the committee meeting.
What happens next: Because the project is now a Type 1 action under SEQRA, the county will prepare and circulate the formal SEQRA checklist and coordinate review with localities and involved agencies before final design and construction work proceeds. Committee members said they expect the project to move forward using available tax credits to reduce upfront costs.
