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For Immediate Release: 03/11/21 John B. Howard, Interim Chair Contact: James Denn | James.Denn@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080
21026/18-F-0262
March 11, 2021
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Siting Board Approves Chenango County Wind Farm |
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100 MW Clean Energy Project Will Produce Enough Clean Electricity for 25,000 Average-Sized Homes Annually
Project to Create Nearly 250 Manufacturing, Supply and Construction Jobs Paying $17.7 Million in Wages; Wind Farm’s Estimated Economic Impact $54.2 Million Statewide; $7.4 Million Countywide
Project Advances New York State’s Aggressive Clean Energy and Climate Goals for 70 Percent of Energy to Come from Renewable Energy Sources by 2030
ALBANY — The New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment (Siting Board) today granted approval to High Bridge Wind, LLC (High Bridge Wind) to build and operate a 100 megawatt (MW) wind farm in the Town of Guilford, Chenango County. The Siting Board’s decision follows a detailed review and robust public participation process to ensure that the wind farm meets or exceeds all siting requirements. This wind farm and other renewable energy projects currently under development — as announced in Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s 2021 State of the State address — are vital to meet the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s aggressive carbon reduction and clean energy targets to combat climate change.
“With today’s decision, we are helping deliver on Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s nation-leading strategy for carbon reduction and a clean-energy economy,” said Siting Board Chair John B. Howard. “The High Bridge wind farm will benefit all New Yorkers by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, while boosting clean-energy investment, clean-energy jobs, and improving our environment.”
According to the developer, the project is expected to create nearly 250 manufacturing, supply and construction jobs that will pay $17.7 million in wages, as well as create additional opportunities for local construction and construction supply vendors. The wind farm will result in annual payments to local landowners in association with the lease and easement agreements.
The facility will be located on approximately 3,905 acres of privately leased or purchased land. The turbines will have a total tip height of between 655 to 671 feet and be connected to the bulk electric transmission system owned by New York State Electric and Gas Corporation (NYSEG). An approximately 17-mile long electrical collection system corridor will connect the turbines to a collection substation. The collection substation, with an optional 5 MW battery storage system, and a point of interconnection substation, will be co-located adjacent to NYSEG’s existing Jennison to East Norwich 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission line.
After reviewing the agreed-upon certificate conditions submitted by most of the parties, the Siting Board determined that the wind farm will be consistent with the energy policies and long-range planning objectives and strategies contained in the most recent State Energy Plan. Based on this, and based on its consideration of other relevant social, economic and other factors, the Siting Board determined that the project will be a beneficial addition to the electric generation capacity of the State, and will also serve the goals of improving fuel diversity, grid reliability, and modernization of grid infrastructure. High Bridge Wind’s formal application to the Siting Board was deemed compliant on March 16, 2020. The 20 parties to the proceeding included several state agencies, the municipality, a citizen group, and a labor group. The record includes nearly 200 public comments. The Siting Board held on-the-record virtual public statement hearings and compiled an evidentiary record containing expert and factual testimony.
The developer estimated the value of economic output associated with facility construction to be $49.7 million statewide and $5.1 million countywide, and the total economic output is projected to increase by an estimated $4.5 million statewide and $2.3 million countywide with facility operation and maintenance. The developer said local governments will also receive significant payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) over 25 years. The Town of Guilford was among the parties signing the settlement agreement. The developer paid $135,800 in intervenor funds to enable municipal and community groups to fully participate in the review of the project.
Today’s decision demonstrates how New York is working to achieve Governor Cuomo's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieving its mandated goal of a zero-emissions electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy-wide carbon neutrality. The transmission upgrade project also builds on New York's unprecedented ramp-up of clean energy including over $4 billion invested in 91 large-scale renewable projects across the state, the creation of more than 150,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector, a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035, and 1,800 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. Under Governor Cuomo's leadership, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities and advancing progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs in end-use savings.
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