FORESTBURGH – The Forestburgh Town Board meeting on June 4 was packed as residents filled the room to voice concerns and seek clarity about the proposed town line solar project, a large-scale renewable energy development planned along the Forestburgh-Thompson border near the Melody Lake area.

Board Supervisor Dan Hogue outlined what is currently known about the project, stressing that no formal application has yet been submitted to the New York State’s Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES), which ultimately has approval authority over projects of this size. 

According to Hogue, the proposal calls for a 200-megawatt solar facility capable of powering roughly 27,000 homes. The full development could span about 1,200 acres across both towns, with approximately 300 acres of panels potentially located within Forestburgh. 

It was also noted that the original proposed battery energy storage system has shifted into Thompson on a separate parcel. The project remains in the pre-application stage with submission timelines repeatedly delayed.

Much of the meeting centered on environmental and community concerns. Residents questioned impacts on forestland, wildlife habitat, road infrastructure, and emergency response capacity particularly in relation to lithium battery storage systems. 

Environmental advocate, Chris Titus, delivered a statement citing ecological risks and oversight concerns saying, “My goal is not to oppose renewable energy but to ensure that any project at this scale is thoroughly reviewed and environmentally responsible and accountable to the community we live in with its impacts for decades.”

He further urged the town to demand stronger environmental studies, traffic impact analysis, invasive species management plans and long-term decommissioning strategies. During the public participation other residents raised concerns about transparency, questioning how the electricity would be used and whether local communities would see meaningful benefits.

Hogue responded that oversight lies largely with the state, though Forestburgh, Thompson and the county are jointly preparing to engage through legal and engineering consultants funded by a $200,000 intervener pool. 

The board also noted that the developer has proposed approximately $22 million in PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) contributions over the next 20 years, distributed amongst the affected municipalities.

Despite the conversation during the public comment, the board emphasized that formal review will intensify once an application is officially filed and environmental studies are released for the public.