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For Immediate Release: 05/18/2022 Rory M. Christian, Chair Contact:
James Denn | James.Denn@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080
22049 / 22-E-0122
May 18, 2022
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Virtual Public Statement Hearings and Procedural Conference Set Regarding Excelsior Energy Center |
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ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) will hold virtual public statement hearings on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, regarding Excelsior Energy Center, LLC’s (Excelsior) ability and readiness to construct, own, and operate a solar generation and energy storage facility in Genesee County, New York.
By order dated April 6, 2022, the New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment (Siting Board) granted Excelsior authority to construct, own, and operate a solar electric generation facility with a generation capacity of up to 280 Megawatts (MW). In doing so, the Siting Board determined that the project would meet all the statutory requirements for certification under Article 10 of the Public Service Law (PSL), including a finding that the project will serve the public interest.
Prior to beginning construction on the project, Excelsior must obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) pursuant to PSL §68, which would ensure that Excelsior is properly registered to do business in New York State, that it has received the consent of appropriate municipalities to proceed with the project, and that it is financially capable of doing so. Accordingly, on February 25, 2022, Excelsior filed a petition requesting that the Commission issue an order granting a CPCN and finding that Excelsior is entitled to a lightened regulatory regime as a participant in the wholesale electric market.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that comments are sought on the petition filed by Excelsior on February 25, 2022. As this is not an opportunity for parties to relitigate issues already decided by the Siting Board in the above-referenced Article 10 proceeding, comments should pertain to Excelsior’s ability and readiness to commence construction of the project as contemplated.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that two virtual public statement hearings will be held before Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Gregg Sayre as follows:
Any person wishing to provide a public statement on the record at the hearings must pre-register to do so by 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
To register electronically: Participants who would like to provide a statement and will log in to the hearing electronically may register to do so by visiting www.webex.com, where they should click “Join” at the top right-hand corner of the screen, enter the event number listed above, and provide all requested information.
When logging in to the hearing on the appropriate date and time, 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 register by phone: Any participant who is not able to log in to the hearing electronically may participate by phone. Call-in participants wishing to provide a statement must register to do so in advance by calling 1-800-342-3330 by the date and time noted above, where they should follow prompts to the appropriate hearing and provide the following information: first and last name, address, and phone number.
On the dates and times of the hearings, all call-in users should dial 518-549-0500 and enter the access code listed above.
The public statement hearings will be held open until everyone who has registered to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements to submit comments into the record have been made. Time limits may be set for each speaker, as necessary. It is also 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.
Person 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 speak at a public statement hearing, there are several other ways to provide your comments. Comments should refer to Case “22-E-0122.”
Internet or Mail: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “Search,” enter “22-E-0122” in the “Search by Case Number” field, and then click on “Post Comments” at the top right of the page. Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the Honorable 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: You may call the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to take comments about pending cases from in-State callers 24 hours a day. These comments are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided by the ALJ to the Commission. |
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