The New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment has granted approval to innogy’s Baron Winds LLC to build and operate a wind facility in Steuben County.
The siting board says its decision follows a “rigorous review and robust public participation process” to ensure that the 242 MW wind farm meets or exceeds all siting requirements.
“In keeping with Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s ambitious goals for carbon reduction and for a clean energy economy, we continue to develop clean energy resources in New York State to help all New Yorkers,” says John B. Rhodes, siting board chair. “Appropriately sited wind farms, such as Baron Winds, provide clean and renewable energy and are essential as we continue on the road toward a zero-carbon emission electric sector by 2040.”
The project will consist of up to 68 492-foot-tall wind turbines, with associated electrical collection lines, access roads, meteorological towers, an operations and maintenance building, and a collection substation. Eleven of the turbines will be 2.625 MW, and the remaining 57 will be 3.675 MW. The project, located in the towns of Cohocton, Dansville, Fremont and Wayland, will interconnect to the state’s electrical grid along a New York State Electric and Gas 230 kV transmission line in Cohocton.
The facility will be located on privately leased, rural land that could continue to be used for farming, forestry and other purposes. The project is expected to have a positive economic impact on the host communities, including through the creation of jobs. Additionally, local governments will receive PILOT payments of approximately $25.7 million over 20 years. Host towns will also receive payments estimated to be up to approximately $12 million over 20 years. Participating landowners will also receive payments.
In making its decision, the siting board determined that, with appropriate certificate conditions in place, any impacts to the environment have been avoided or, if unavoidable, mitigated to the maximum extent practicable.
Baron Winds filed its formal application with the siting board in August. Stakeholders in the proceeding included local elected officials; area residents and environmental advocates; and several state agencies, including the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Department of Health, and the Department of Agriculture and Markets. The siting board held two public information sessions, two on-the-record public statement hearings, one procedural conference, and one evidentiary hearing, all in the area of the project, with over 140 total comments.
