City welcomes public input on how to spend the Kingston Solar Community Benefit Fund
Replacing a play structure and building a shade structure at Elginburg Public School, and planting approximately 2,000 trees – these are just some of the ways the Kingston Solar Community Benefit Fund has been used in Kingston since its inception.
Designed to “help improve natural and recreational areas,” the Kingston Solar Community Benefit Fund is part of an agreement with Kingston Solar LP (Samsung), which contributes $1,250 per megawatt of power produced by their solar project to the City of Kingston. According to the City of Kingston, the project generates 73.6 megawatts within the City’s boundaries, which makes the company’s annual contribution to the fund more than $92,000. The balance of the fund with 2020 contributions is $92,997.36.
Since 2015, the fund has been used to plant approximately 2,000 trees near the solar project, which is located off of Unity Road. Additionally, the fund has been used to replace a play structure, plant trees, and build a shade structure at Elginburg Public School, as well as for improvements to the John Brewer Park sports court including crack repair, new acrylic surfacing, and pickleball lines added to one of the tennis courts.
Now, the City of Kingston is asking for public input on how to spend the funds currently available. According to the City, project that meet the fund’s criteria for consideration include:
- Planting trees in the public right-of-way and on private properties in the area of the Kingston Solar LP (Samsung) properties;
- Park improvements in the rural area of Kingston; or
- Acquisition of parkland/natural lands in the rural area of Kingston.
Residents can tell the City how they would like the Community Benefit Fund to be spent:
- Online: Click here to rank how you would spend the fund and provide ideas for project consideration. Online feedback closes Monday, Nov. 25, 2019 at 4 p.m.
- In person: Go to the Rural Advisory Committee meeting Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019 at the Glenburnie Fire Station (1485 Unity Road). The meeting begins at 6 p.m.