June 18, 2018
New York

Arkwright wind turbine project almost complete

Jo Ward | The Post-Journal | Jun 18, 2018 | www.post-journal.com

ARKWRIGHT – More than half of the wind turbines are up and cleanup is commencing at most sites, Arkwright town officials learned last week.

“Twenty-two turbines up and 14 to go,” Rod Clossman from EDP Renewables said. “We have to start renewing the wetlands and all the areas that we have to straighten back up – put them back the way they were. Brainard and Miller Road we’ve been watering every day, and we’ve been grading Meadows Road regularly due to deliveries down there now.”

Clossman is hoping all turbines will be erected by June 25, “if the wind holds down.”

The operation date and payments of royalties to Arkwright residents are still up in the air as there are two dates. “One is completion of construction,” he noted. “One is when operation starts.”

The difference between the two is National Grid has their own date for when they can bring the power online. However, Clossman said they should have the farm producing electricity around five days after they get backfeed power – power produced to run the the turbines so they can start producing electricity, which is hopefully sometime in early August.

Most of the work surrounding the construction has been nearly completed, such as the substation and switch yard. The focus is now on the restoration of land disrupted by the project.

On a similar note James Ziemba, highway superintendent, was concerned about the litter from the windmill deliveries.

“Once this year I’ve had my crew up there (wooded area off Meadows Road) to do litter control,” Ziemba said. “We came back with a whole dump truck full,”

Clossman replied, “We’ve already put stone in, but they’re (EDP crews) going to have to clean it up.”

Town Supervisor Fred Norton addressed the asphalt final coat that will run on Straight Road, from Miller to Center Road, the cost of which is coming mostly from the developer (EDP) following their departure. Ziemba told the board that he was informed by other municipalities “not to put the airport on; it’s not going to hold up.”

Ziemba instead recommended the type-two binder, which the board agreed with giving approval to Ziemba, the final cost being $186,000.

As roads were a discussion point, some concerned citizens had some questions regarding road repair on Cable Road.

“We have addressed it, we’ve looked at the budget, we’ve looked at where it needs to be spent the worst and we’ve decided that Cable Road isn’t on the plan for this year, but it is on the plan for next year,” Councilman Larry Ball informed the residents.

The reasons Ball went on is that “there is just not the time nor the funds in the budget to do it this year.”

After some back and forth discussion citing intense erosion and dust problems, Ziemba responded that he would attempt to do something about those issues in the worst areas for the time being. When asked if Miller Road was being done this year the board confirmed that it was due to the fact that it is a thru-road.

“The issue has been submitted to the county,” Ball said. “If the superintendent of highways is able, the weather is good and he has extra time and money, I’m sure the board will be able to revisit that. If there is time something more will be done with Cable this year, if not it will be done next year.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2018/06/18/arkwright-wind-turbine-project-almost-complete/