GUILFORD – High Bridge Wind, the LLC behind a proposed windmill project in the Town of Guilford, plans to submit an application to the New York Department of Public Service within the next week, bringing the company's proposal one step further to fruition.
High Bridge Wind, a subsidiary of Calpine Corp., aims to submit its application on or around July 23. The result could be production of up to 25 100-megawatt, 650 to 676-foot-tall power generating wind turbines located on the hills of Guilford. If carried out, Chenango County would be home to some of the tallest land wind turbines in the country.
Before moving to the next phase of the project, Calpine needs permission from the Siting Board of the New York State Department of Public Service.
Under NY's Article 10, Calpine would additionally need permission of DPS's Siting Committee consisting of state and community representatives, including individuals nominated by the Town of Guilford and by Chenango County government. Though Guilford submitted names to sit on that committee earlier this year, county officials are doubtful anyone at the county level thus far has followed suit. Members of the Chenango County Planning Committee vowed last Thursday to find when – or if – anyone has submitted names to represent the county.
Guilford Town Supervisor George Seneck updated the Planning Committee on current happenings last week. County government may play a relatively minor role in the project, but it could be impacted by likely PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreements, to be decided by the local IDA, that would essentially give a tax break to Calpine. County officials would also be charged with adopting a road use agreement for construction and maintenance of the wind facility.
“I think if there's questions, members of the committee should be as involved as I have been in this. There's a lot of reading and research,” Seneck told committee members after being drilled by questions on topics such as tax incentives, environmental impacts, and the estimated efficiency of the project.
Seneck said his town has controlled the project as best it can by adopting local laws that would hold Calpine responsible for producing at least 50 percent efficiency and subjecting the company to a decommissioning plan that must be reviewed annually and adjusted for inflation.
