ALBANY — The New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment (Siting Board) today announced it would hold public statement hearings in the City of Hornell, to receive comments on Eight Point Wind, LLC’s proposal to build and operate a 101.8-megawatt (MW) wind energy project in the Towns of Greenwood and West Union, Steuben County.

The project would include the installation and operation of up to 31 wind turbines, together with access roads, a collection substation, mostly underground 34.5 kilovolt (kV) collection lines, up to two permanent meteorological towers, temporary staging/laydown areas, an operations and maintenance building, and related facilities. Eight Point Wind proposes to construct an approximately 16.5-mile overhead 115 kV transmission line that would interconnect the project with New York State Electric and Gas Corporation’s existing 115 kV Bennett Substation in Hornellsville, Steuben County. The proposed transmission facility will be subject to review pursuant to Article VII of the Public Service Law, and will not be reviewed as part of the proposed project in this proceeding.

On September 6, 2018, the Chair of the Siting Board determined that the application submitted by Eight Point Wind complies with the Siting Board’s filing requirements.

Opportunities for public information and comment will be held, as follows:

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Hornell City Hall Courtroom
82 Main Street
Hornell, NY 14843

2 P.M. and 6 P.M. – Information Forums
3 P.M. and 7 P.M. – Public Statement Hearings

At the informational forums, the examiners, Administrative Law Judges Sean Mullany and Michelle Phillips of the Department of Public Service and Administrative Law Judge Lisa Wilkinson of the Department of Environmental Conservation, will provide an overview of the Siting Board's certification process. Eight Point Wind will then present a brief description of the project and will have maps of the project area available for viewing. Members of the public will then have an opportunity to pose questions about the siting process and the Eight Point Wind application that is currently pending before the Siting Board.

Those wishing to comment on Eight Point Wind’s proposal to construct its project will have the opportunity to make a statement on the record at the public statement hearing. It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance, or to present written material in order to speak at the hearing. Any person wishing to provide a public statement must complete a request card. The examiners will then use the request cards to call each person who has requested an opportunity to provide a statement. The examiners will continue the hearing for at least one hour, or until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements have been made. A verbatim transcript of the hearing will be made for inclusion in the record of this case.

Persons with disabilities requiring special accommodations should contact the Department of Public Service’s Human Resource 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 to reach the Department of Public Service's Human Resource Office. Individuals with difficulty understanding or reading English are encouraged to call 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.

Other Ways to Comment

For those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at the public statement hearings, there are several other ways to provide your comments to the Siting Board. Comments should refer to “Case 16-F-0062, Eight Point Wind.” Although comments will be accepted throughout the pendency of this proceeding, they are requested by January 11, 2019.

Via the Internet: Comments may be entered directly into the case file via the Department of Public Service website, www.dps.ny.gov, by clicking “Search” at the top of the page and then entering “16-F-0062” into the “Search by Case Number” field. In the open case, access the screen to enter comments by clicking on the “Post Comments” box at the top right of the page.

Email or Mail: Comments may also be submitted via Email to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, at secretary@dps.ny.gov, or by mail or delivery to Secretary Burgess at the New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350. Your comments should specify that they are intended for Case 16-F-0062 – Eight Point Wind Project.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: Individuals may choose to submit comments by calling the Department of Public Service’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This line is set up to receive in-state calls 24-hours a day. Callers leaving comments should reference Case 16-F-0062 – Eight Point Wind Project. Telephonic comments are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Examiners who will report to the Commission.

All written comments will become part of the record and will be reported to the Siting Board for its consideration. All written comments may be accessed on the Department of Public Service website at www.dps.ny.gov. Click the “Search” button on the home page and then enter “16-F-0062” in the space provided for searching by case number; then view the “Public Comments” tab.

Eight Point Wind’s application to the Siting Board may be also viewed online at the Department of Public Service website at www.dps.ny.gov. Click the “Search” button on the home page and then enter “16-F-0062” in the space provided for searching by case number. Copies of the application may also be viewed at the following public repositories: Jasper Free Library, 3807 Library Street, Jasper, New York 14844; Wimodaughsian Free Library, 19 West Main Street, Canisteo, New York 14823; and City of Hornell Public Library, 64 Genesee Street, Hornell, New York 14843.