The New York State Public Service Commission has authorized the construction and operation of a wind energy project capable of generating 108 MW in Chateaugay, N.Y.
The wind turbines will be built by Noble Chateaugay, a subsidiary of Noble Environmental Power, which is principally owned by JP Morgan Partners.
‘The certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) approval by the commission today for the Noble Chateaugay project will provide electricity through facilities utilizing renewable resource technology to provide clean and renewable supplies of electricity to the wholesale energy market,’ says commission Chairwoman Patricia L. Acampora.
Noble Chateaugay plans to build 72 wind turbines, each rated at 1.5 MW. Noble Chateaugay electric lines will connect to a new substation under construction on a 7.34-acre parcel, which will tie into the existing 230 kV New York Power Authority Plattsburgh-Willis transmission line, providing access to the bulk transmission system. The 390-foot-tall monopole wind turbines are proposed to be sited in a generally random arrangement across the eastern and central portions of the town.
According to the petition, the company will sell the output of its facilities exclusively at wholesale and will not be a retail supplier of electricity. The company anticipates selling such output in the spot markets administered by the New York Independent System Operator, or neighboring control areas. The company intends to sell renewable energy credits to purchasers such as green energy marketers, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority or other customers.
Noble is also actively developing wind energy projects in the adjacent towns of Clinton, Ellenburg and Altona, and in Wyoming County in western New York.
The company's draft environmental impact statement also includes information and analysis of an additional 14 turbines to produce 21 MW in Bellmont, which are proposed to be developed by the affiliate company Noble Bellmont. Those turbines and associated electric lines, interconnection and metering facilities will be reviewed in a separate petition as an amendment to the previously approved Noble Ellenburg CPCN.
