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(Schenectady County, NY) — The Schenectady County Legislature is continuing its efforts to protect the aquifer, clean-up derelict sites, and assist our local municipal partners in reaching 100 percent energy independence by considering a resolution at its August meeting to demolish the former L&M Motel in Rotterdam.
The Legislature will consider a resolution approving a collaborative project between Schenectady County, the Town of Rotterdam, The Capital Region Land Bank and the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority that will demolish the abandoned and deteriorating L&M Motel on Rice Road in Rotterdam. The site is located in the Aquifer Protection Zone immediately adjacent to well fields that draw water from the Great Flats Aquifer.
“This is a great opportunity to clean-up a major eyesore in Rotterdam while protecting the Great Flats Aquifer,” said Holly Vellano, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature’s Committee on Environmental Conservation and Parks. “The aquifer is one of our greatest assets and we are committed to taking all the steps necessary to protect this abundant clean water supply.”
As part of the Aquifer Protection Zone there are limits to how the land can be utilized after the demolition occurs. The County approached the Town of Rotterdam to discuss a unique collaborative project that would place a solar farm generating 600kW of power that would be used to power the Town’s nearby water pumps (an approved use of the property), saving Town property taxpayers more than $20,000 per year.
“Our mantra in Schenectady County has been Working Together Works, and our collaborative efforts are truly getting results,” said Rory Fluman, Chair of the Legislature’s Committee on Intergovernmental Cooperation. “This is just the first of what we hope will be many intermunicipal solar projects that will save our taxpayers money while protecting our environment. This project eliminates a longtime eyesore, protects the aquifer for future generations, and assists our local governments get one step closer to our goal of 100 percent solar power county-wide by the end of 2021.”
The resolution would also approve an agreement with Monolith Solar to develop the 600kW hour solar farm which will provide a 20 – 35 percent discount to the Town of Rotterdam, saving between $20,000 and $35,000 annually and reducing CO2 output by 500 tons each year.
The agreement will divide the cost of the demolition between Schenectady County ($50,000), the Land Bank ($50,000), Metroplex ($50,000) and the Schenectady County Capital Resource Corporation ($57,000).
The resolution will be voted on at the Legislature’s August regular meeting on Tuesday, August 8, 2017.
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