Virtual Public Statement Hearing Set Regarding Hecate Energy Cider Solar Farm

ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) will hold a virtual public statement hearing on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, regarding Hecate Energy Cider Solar, LLC’s (Hecate Cider) authority to construct and operate a solar farm in the Towns of Elba and Oakfield, Genesee County.

On June 7, 2022, Hecate Cider filed a petition seeking a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the Commission, pursuant to Section 68 of the Public Service Law. If issued, the CPCN would authorize Hecate Cider to construct, own, and operate a proposed major renewable solar farm called Hecate Energy Cider in the Towns of Elba and Oakfield, Genesee County. Construction and operation of the project would be subject to the terms and conditions of the Siting Permit for a major renewable energy facility issued by the Office of Renewable Energy Siting on July 25, 2022.

Hecate Energy Cider’s petition also asks that the Commission find and determine that Hecate Energy Cider is entitled to a lightened regulatory regime as a wholesale electric generator. The scope of the Commission’s review of the Section 68 petition will not duplicate the issues that were previously considered and decided by the Office of Renewable Energy Siting.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a virtual public statement hearing will be held before Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Anthony Belsito on:

DATE: Wednesday, August 31, 2022

TIME: 5:00 P.M.

Electronic Access: www.webex.com

Event Number: 2344 141 4140

Password: Aug31-5pm

Phone-Only Access: 518-549-0500

Access Code: 2344 141 4140

Those wishing to comment on any aspect of this proceeding will have the opportunity to make a statement on the record at the virtual public statement hearing. Any person wishing to provide a public statement on the record at the hearing must pre-register by 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 30, 2022.

To pre-register and provide a statement electronically:

Participants who would like to provide a statement and will log in to the hearing electronically must pre-register by the date and time indicated above, by visiting www.webex.com, where they should click “Join” at the top right-hand corner of the screen, input the event number listed above, and provide all requested information.

When logging in on the date and time of the hearing, participants will be asked to “select audio system.” It is recommended that participants opt to have the system “call me” or “call using computer.” The “call me” option will require that participants enter their phone numbers.

To pre-register and to provide a statement by phone:

Any participant who is not able to log in to the hearing electronically may call in. Call-in participants wishing to make a statement at the hearing must pre-register by the date and time indicated above by calling 1-800-342-3330, where they should follow prompts to the hearing and provide the following information: first and last name, address, and phone number.

On the date and time of the hearing, all call-in participants should dial 518-549-0500 and enter the access code listed above.

All participants will be muted upon entry into the hearing. The ALJ will call on each person who has preregistered to speak. The ALJ will continue the hearing until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements to submit comments into the record have been made. Reasonable time limits may be set for each speaker as necessary to afford all attendees an opportunity to be heard. It is recommended that lengthy comments be submitted in writing and summarized for oral presentation. A verbatim transcript of the public statement hearing will be made for inclusion in the record of this case.

To listen to the hearing: Pre-registration is not required to listen to the hearing but not make a public statement. The hearing will be livestreamed on the internet and available for viewing on the Department of Public Service’s YouTube channel on the date and time listed above. To access the YouTube channel, visit the Department’s website, www.dps.ny.gov, and click on the YouTube icon at the bottom of the homepage. As an alternative, any person without internet access may listen to the hearing by calling 518-549-0500 and entering the applicable access code.

Persons with disabilities requiring special accommodations should call the Department of Public Service’s Human Resources Management Office at 518-474-2520 as soon as possible. TDD users may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711. Individuals with difficulty understanding or reading English are encouraged to call the Department at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this notice.

Other Ways to Comment

For those who cannot attend or prefer not to present comments at the public statement hearing, there are several other ways to provide your comments. Comments should refer to Case 22-E-0343. Although comments will be accepted throughout the pendency of this proceeding, they are requested by September 7, 2022.

Internet or Mail: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “Search,” enter “22-E-0343” in the “Search by Case Number” field, then click on “Post Comments” at the top right of the page. Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.

All written comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission and may be accessed on the Department of Public Service website by searching the case number, as described above, and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: Individuals may submit comments by calling the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This line is set up to receive in-state calls 24-hours a day. These calls are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that a procedural conference will be held immediately following the public statement hearing, as part of the same teleconference. The principal purposes of the procedural conference are to identify any potential parties and provide interested persons an opportunity to present and explain any proposals regarding the procedures they believe should be followed in this case by the ALJ and Commission including, but not limited to, whether any issues of fact presented by the petition or public comments warrant an evidentiary hearing. Other procedural issues also may be addressed.

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