National Wind Watch: Wind Energy News » Agreements regarding Galloo Island Wind project application open for comment

Proposed agreements between Apex Clean Energy and state agencies regarding what the developer will include in its Galloo Island Wind project application are available for public comment.

Apex Clean Energy Thursday submitted the proposed stipulations it made with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, state Department of Public Service, state Department of Health and the state Department of Agriculture and Markets for the materials the developer will provide in its Article 10 state law review application to the DPS website, according to a notice from DPS Secretary Kathleen H. Burgess. The notice also states that “other parties in this proceeding may join these stipulations including the Town of Hounsfield and the Village of Sackets Harbor.”

The stipulations between Apex Clean Energy and the four state agencies regarding what it will provide in its application include studies used to assess the 108.9-megawatt project’s potential health and environmental as well as each study’s scope, methods, exhibits and data included in each study, Ms. Burgess said in her notice. The proposed stipulations also include mitigation measures and agency consultations needed before the developer submits its application. The siting board said in a background statement that parties were permitted to begin discussing stipulations last July.

“What is published on the website was the position that was reached among (those) parties,” said Neil T. Habig, senior director of project development for Apex Clean Energy.

These stipulations, however, will not receive approval before the four state agencies and Apex Clean Energy accept and review public comments.

Ms. Burgess said in her notice that “any person, agency or municipality” can comment on the stipulations through June 19 by submitting them to the DPS website, by emailing them to her at secretary@dps.ny.gov and by emailing them to Cat C. Mosley, public affairs manager for Apex Clean Energy at info@galloislandwind.com.

“The law and regulations require that members of the public be afforded the opportunity to comment on the stipulations before the stipulations may be finally executed,” the siting board said in a background statement. “The individuals or parties who propose the stipulations may consider those comments before determining whether to sign the stipulations.”

Hounsfield Town Supervisor Timothy W. Scee said town officials attended many meetings “by phone conference” and any environmental concerns they had about the project were addressed by the state agencies and developer.

“The town of Hounsfield has signed off on that,” he said. “We didn’t have any concerns.”

While comments will be accepted through June, Apex Clean Energy intends to submit its application to the state Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment this month.

Mr. Habig said they might still submit an application by that time, but there is “still quite a bit of work to be done.” Once the application is deemed complete, the siting board will schedule a public hearing and accept applications for additional intervenor funds to allow municipalities and other local parties to help review the application, Ms. Burgess said in her notice.

“We are working on finalizing the application,” Mr. Habig said.

Apex Clean Energy plans to build 30 turbines, with each 3.6-megawatt turbine being just under 600 feet, and an underwater transmission cable from Galloo Island to a National Grid substation in Oswego County for its proposed wind energy facility.