New York wind farm receives siting board approval

The New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment recently approved Eight Point Wind LLC to build and operate a 101.8 megawatt (MW) wind farm facility in Steuben County, N.Y.

“In keeping with Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s goal to develop clean energy resources in New York State and nation-leading Green New Deal, we are proud to approve construction of this appropriately sited wind farm,” Siting Board Chair John B. Rhodes said. “Wind energy is a clean fuel source. It doesn’t pollute the air like power plants that rely on fossil fuels and it’s renewable. Our decision today demonstrates once again that renewable energy works in New York and creates clean energy-economy jobs.”

The 101.8 MW wind farm will consist of 31 wind turbines. The project will also include the construction of access roads, a collection substation, mostly underground 34.5 kilovolt (kV) collection lines, up to two permanent meteorological towers, temporary staging and laydown areas, an operations and maintenance building and related facilities.

Eight Point Wind proposes constructing an approximately 16.5-mile overhead 115 kV transmission line to interconnect the project with New York State Electric and Gas Corporation’s existing 115 kV Bennett substation in Hornellsville in Steuben County. The proposed transmission facility is subject to review pursuant to Article VII of the Public Service Law and was not reviewed as part of the proposed project in this proceeding.

Construction is expected to create 103 direct construction-related jobs. Eight Point Wind also expects that six permanent jobs will be created during operation. Eight Point Wind also expects to pay upwards of $25 million to participating landowners and millions to the local community through PILOT payments. Eight Point Wind will separately pay the towns more than $300,000 each year through host community agreements.