Kendall approves solar permit process for residential use
KENDALL – The Kendall Town Board has adopted a standardized residential/home business/non-commercial solar permit process which also moves the town closer to Clean Energy Community designation.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is offering a $2,500 grant to municipalities which adopt a uniform NYS solar permit process. Town of Kendall Code Enforcement Officer Paul Hennekey has advised the Town Board that the state process is consistent and compatible with the Town’s zoning code and permitting process.
Under the NYS Unified Solar Permit process, a permit fee of $20 for each application is established. Town leaders said that cost is consistent with current town fees.
Councilperson Bruce Newell said the adoption of the state solar permit process moves the town forward on one of four high impact actions necessary for Clean Energy Community certification and additional grant funds.
“We are making good progress,” Newell said during Tuesday’s meeting.
The New York State Unified Solar Permit process streamlines the approval process for local solar projects. Additionally, Kendall is moving forward on other high impact actions including energy reviews and energy tracking – a benchmarking policy which tracks and reports energy use in municipal buildings.
Newell said Kendall is also working to convert lighting in municipal buildings to LED as well as street lighting to LED.
As part of the LED street light conversion effort, Town Board members passed a resolution authorizing the supervisor to sign a non-disclosure agreement with National Grid- subject to review by the town attorney.
“This moves us towards overall certification,” Newell said.
He added that the Genesee Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council has informed him that small communities like Kendall can aggregate LED lighting together with other small communities in order to obtain additional support from National Grid in the process.
Governor Cuomo announced the $16 million Clean Energy Communities initiative last August. The initiative supports local government leaders across NY State to implement energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable development projects in their communities.
It also advances the Governor’s Reforming the Energy strategy by demonstrating the importance of communities in helping New York reach its goal of 50 percent of the state’s electricity coming from renewable energy resources by 2030.
United Shoreline praised for advocacy for shoreline property owners
Councilperson Newell and Supervisor Tony Cammarata discussed the United Shore effort by residents along the Lake Ontario shoreline to band together as a group to advocate at the local, state and national levels for residents and businesses adversely affected by the high water levels of Lake Ontario this spring and resultant flooding and property damage and loss.
The group met for the first time Friday, June 16, and plans a second meeting this Friday at the Hamlin Town Hall at 6:30 p.m.
Newell and Cammarata said United Shore is trying to be a voice for south shore property owners along Lake Ontario.
“It’s a small group of people we hope will grow much larger,” Cammarata said. “The group wants to contact representatives on a repeated bases…. you don’t have to be a lakeshore resident to join, you can join to help your fellow neighbor.”
Earlier in the meeting, Supervisor Cammarata commended Kendall Highway Superintendent Warren Kruger for his continuing work to help residents along the shoreline and assist the state and Army Corps of Engineers in its work.
Cammarata said officials from Homeland Security have walked the shoreline from the Town of Yates east to talk to homeowners and businesses and assess damage in Orleans County. If the agency finds there is at least $27 million in damage along the entire south shore, the governor can petition President Trump to declare the flooding and damage a major disaster, opening up FEMA monies and more assistance from the Army Corps of Engineers beyond technical support, Cammarata said.
