I write to register my strong opposition to the Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement requested by Solitude Solar, LLC d/b/a U.S. Light Energy for the project at 103 Long Lane in the Town of Crawford, and urge the Orange County Industrial Development Agency to deny this request.

As the applicant themself states, over half of the project’s costs are already being borne by taxpayers via solar investment tax credits ($4.262 million) and a NYSERDA grant ($1.408 million). To further saddle local taxpayers with a long-term agreement that deprives the local municipality and school district of vital tax revenue is objectionable.

As this board is well aware, such a PILOT award would be in direct violation of items I and VI of the IDA’s own Uniform Tax Exemption Policy (UTEP). There are either zero or near-zero permanent jobs created by community solar projects generally and, in fact, Solitude Solar makes no attempt whatsoever to outline their hiring plans (I); further, per direct conversations I have had with local leadership, officials in the Town of Crawford are opposed to a PILOT for this project (VI).

I must urge your denial of the requested PILOT by Solitude Solar.