Steuben County Wind Farm Allowed to Reduce its Size 

ALBANY — The New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment (Siting Board) today approved an amendment to the construction certificate for a wind farm in the towns of Cameron, Canisteo, Greenwood, Jasper, Troupsburg, and West Union in Steuben County. The amendment will reduce the size of the wind farm from 290.7 megawatts (MWs) to 250 MWs.

“In keeping with Governor Kathy Hochul’s ambitious goal for New York State to achieve a clean energy economy, we must continue to develop clean energy resources throughout the state,” said Siting Board Chair Rory M. Christian. “The Siting Board finds that the changes to the project would not result in a significant adverse increase to environmental impacts. Accordingly, the Siting Board approves the changes.”

The original certificate authorized Canisteo Wind Energy, LLC (Canisteo) to construct and operate a wind energy facility with a nameplate capacity of up to 290.7 MW consisting of up to 117 turbines, together with temporary and permanent access roads, a 34.5 kilovolt (kV) collection system, collection substation, two permanent meteorological towers, one operations and maintenance building, and temporary facilities for a concrete batch plant and a construction laydown area. 

In its amendment petition, among other changes, Canisteo Wind sought approval to reduce the total capacity of the Certified Facility from the authorized 290.7 MW to 250 MW; reduce the number of wind turbine generators (turbines) from the authorized 117 to 66; change the facility layout and shift the location of 13 turbines and associated access roads and collection line corridors; add an approximately 2,800-foot temporary access road; and add two aircraft detection lighting system towers that are up to 125 feet tall.

Canisteo stated that the changes reduce the environmental and other impacts because there are fewer structures and access roads, and, accordingly, less associated impacts. In granting the amendment, the Siting Board emphasized its expectation that the facility will commence commercial operation by 2030.

The Siting Board noted that approval of these project changes does not relieve Canisteo Wind, the developer, of the need to comply with the terms, conditions, limitations, or modifications of the construction and operation of the facility authorized in the certificate, and Canisteo Wind is required to comply with the procedures for compliance filings, including filing and notice requirements prior to any related construction.

New York State's Climate Agenda

New York State's climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.

Today’s decision may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission’s web site at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Number 16-F-0205 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number". Many libraries offer free Internet access. Documents may also be obtained from the Siting Board’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500). If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.