STONE RIDGE – Hudson Valley farmers and rural small business owners can rely more and more on sustainable energy, particularly solar energy, Congressman Maurice Hinchey told them Monday as many attended a conference at Ulster County Community College in Stone Ridge.

Hinchey pointed to his efforts in developing the Solar Energy Consortium and creating partnerships with organizations like Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation to support farms, create new opportunities for farmers to incorporate value added production operations to their businesses and to increase the marketability of Hudson Valley grown products.

“The agricultural operation here in Ulster County and the region is so critically essential, absolutely important that we are working closely with them now to provide information as to the availability of alternative energy, particularly solar energy,” he said.

A number of experts in the field briefed the farms as to how to secure and alternative energy opportunities.