National Wind Watch: Wind Energy News » Apex unveils Galloo wind project plans to Jefferson County legislators

Representatives from Apex Clean Energy unveiled the details of its Galloo Island wind project during a Jefferson County Board of Legislators meeting Tuesday.

Apex bought the project from Hudson Energy Development in late 2015, and the project has only slightly deviated from the original plan set out by Hudson.

Neil Habig, an Apex developer for the project, said the wind farm will consist of 32 turbines and a a 30-mile underwater transmission line from the island to a National Grid substation in the town of Oswego.

Mr. Habig said the project is still going through the Article 10 review process, and he expects it to continue for the next year with construction slated to start in late 2017. The wind farm would be operational in 2018.

Throughout the project’s year-long construction, Mr. Habig said 100 to 150 temporary jobs will be created. However, once it’s completed, only three to five permanent jobs will remain.

In total, Mr. Habig said the project will cost somewhere around $200 million, and it will be mostly through private investments. He added that federal wind tax credits could also be utilized. The credits are funded out of energy user utility bills.

The Galloo project was also once owned by Upstate NY Power Corp. of West Seneca, which planned on installing 82 turbines along with 50-mile overland transmission line from Jefferson County to Mexico, Oswego County. But that plan was ultimately scrapped after being opposed by taxing entities.

Apex is expected to seek a 20-year PILOT agreement with the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency.

Scott A. Gray, chairman of the Jefferson County Board of Legislators, said the board will take a more “proactive approach” in its consideration of the project, having learned more about the process from the old Galloo Island wind farm proposed by Upstate.

Mr. Habig said Apex officials will likely hold a public information session about the project sometime in July.