Belgrade moves forward with new solar ordinance, aims to have town vote in November

MORNING SENTINEL • August 8, 2022

Town officials are nearing passage of a first-of-its-kind solar ordinance, with the intention of ending the current moratorium on commercial solar projects in November. The Board of Selectpersons last week made minor language changes to the proposed ordinance and requested that a town attorney review it. Belgrade is one of many towns in the region that have adopted a solar moratorium, with the goal of developing solar-specific ordinances. Among the proposed restrictions: if a developer wishes to build a solar project in a wooded area, only 10 acres could be cleared, and the project must then maintain 15% of the land as natural open space.