December 17, 2015
New York

Galloo Island wind project sold

WWNY TV 7 | Story Published: Dec 16, 2015 | www.wwnytv.com

The proposed Galloo Island wind project is changing hands.

Apex Clean Energy announced Wednesday it is purchasing the “development assets” for the project from Hudson Energy, the current developer.

Hudson Energy has proposed building 31 wind turbines that would be 575 feet tall, and generate 102 megawatts of electricity.

The project is very controversial; it is widely opposed in the Henderson Harbor area, where residents worry the wind farm would ruin the view and destroy property values.

In a statement Wednesday, Dan Fitzgerald, senior project manager at Apex, said ““We are committed to following through on all of the promises that have been made by the project to date, to developing the project in accordance with its existing Article 10 Public Involvement Plan, and to introducing Apex to the community.”

Apex has scheduled a 6 PM January 12, 2016 open house at the Town of Hounsfield offices. Apex has also set up a web site to promote the project.

The Apex statement did not disclose a purchase price for the project’s assets.

The earliest construction on Galloo Island would start would be late in 2017, according to Dahvi Wilson, senior manager for public affairs for Apex.

Wilson said the company looks forward to working with the public, including people in Henderson Harbor, “so that we can understand their concerns.”

She said the company will develop additional simulations that show what the wind farm will look like from a distance.

The company plans to pursue payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements.

(Read Apex’s full statement here.)

Both Hounsfield town supervisor Tim Scee and Henderson town supervisor John Culkin were informed of the sale Tuesday.

“I believe this is a positive step,” Scee said. “They assured me the project will continue moving as previously proposed.” The project is technically in Hounsfield, and the town stands to benefit from it.

Culkin said he was told the details of the project haven’t changed – including the fact that the transmission line from Galloo Island will run underwater to the Oswego area.

“We knew that eventually Hudson would sell off the project,” Culkin said. “We’re not sure what it means, or why Apex invested in it.”

“We’re still concerned about the impact it will have on our town, regardless of who’s doing the project.”

The wind farm is proposed under what’s known as “Article 10,” which allows a wind farm developer to bypass local regulations and get approval through the state instead.

Apex owns “about 50” projects which are in development, Wilson said, and operates two wind projects for other companies. It anticipates operating another two or three for other companies over the next year.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/12/17/galloo-island-wind-project-sold/