Riverhead Town has extended its moratorium on commercial solar energy systems for another year.
The Town Board voted unanimously last night, 4-0 with Councilman Frank Beyrodt recused, to extend the moratorium, initially adopted in October 2021.
The moratorium prohibits “the issuance of any zoning, building or other licenses, permits, or other approvals to any person, entity or premises, for establishment, location, construction or operation of a Commercial Solar Energy System” in the Town of Riverhead.
It was adopted in response to the number of commercial solar energy systems being built in the hamlet of Calverton. It did not apply to projects that already had applications pending.
Community members again spoke out last night in favor of adopting a broader moratorium while the comprehensive plan update is being completed. No pending proposal for a broader moratorium has been publicly discussed by the Town Board, though at least two board members, Supervisor Yvette Aguiar and Councilman Tim Hubbard, have in the past said they would consider adopting a moratorium for certain types of uses, such as battery energy storage systems.
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