The battle over wind turbines in Cherry Valley is heating up, with the developer, Reunion Power, of Manchester, Vt., proposing to reduce electricity bills in the town and opponents calling for an 18-month moratorium on wind projects.
The battle over wind turbines in Cherry Valley is heating up, with the developer, Reunion Power, of Manchester, Vt., proposing to reduce electricity bills in the town and opponents calling for an 18-month moratorium on wind projects.
On Thursday, David Little, Reunion’s project manager in Cherry Valley, said the firm is working out an agreement with a large electrical supplier to offer town residents a reduction of 25 percent on the cost of purchasing their electric power.
"We want to offer something to everyone in the town beyond the PILOT agreement that would benefit the town and school district," Little said. Last week, Reunion announced that it is prepared to pay at least $300,000 a year to the Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School District, Otsego County and the town of Cherry Valley.
Over a 20-year period, the company estimates this payment-in-lieu-of-taxes proposal would provide about $7.5 million.
On Thursday afternoon, Little said the company has …
On Thursday, David Little, Reunion’s project manager in Cherry Valley, said the firm is working out an agreement with a large electrical supplier to offer town residents a reduction of 25 percent on the cost of purchasing their electric power.
"We want to offer something to everyone in the town beyond the PILOT agreement that would benefit the town and school district," Little said. Last week, Reunion announced that it is prepared to pay at least $300,000 a year to the Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School District, Otsego County and the town of Cherry Valley.
Over a 20-year period, the company estimates this payment-in-lieu-of-taxes proposal would provide about $7.5 million.
On Thursday afternoon, Little said the company has nearly concluded an agreement with "a well-known company" that would give all customers of that company in Cherry Valley a 25 percent reduction on the portion of their electric bills that covers the cost of buying power.
The agreement would not affect the cost of transmitting electricity to customers. For all town residents to receive the reduction in electrical costs, they would need to become customers of that company, he said.
Earlier in the day, Reunion issued a statement that the participating company would be NYSEG Solutions, but later, Little and Mark Beaudoin, of NYSEG Solutions, said it would be premature to name the supplier.
On Thursday, Reunion’s proposed PILOT agreement was discussed by the county’s Industrial Development Agency, according to Carolyn Lewis, the county’s newly appointed economic developer.
Lewis said the IDA will not act on the proposal until Reunion’s proposal to site 24 wind turbines on East Hill in Cherry Valley has been reviewed under the state’s Environmental Quality Review Law and found not to have a substantial negative impact on the environment.
A few members of the Cherry Valley Advocates, a group that opposes Reunion’s plans, attended the IDA meeting, Lewis said.
One of those advocates, Lynn Marsh, said Thursday night that she believes "Reunion is trying to make an end run around town officials with these promises, but this isn’t going to work in Cherry Valley."
The Advocates do not oppose wind power but believe this project is not in the best interest of town residents, she said.
Next Thursday at 7 p.m., the Cherry Valley Town Board will meet, and one item likely to be on the agenda is the proposed moratorium that would stop all wind projects from proceeding for at least 18 months.
Town Supervisor Tom Garretson has said he favors the concept because it would allow the town to adopt a comprehensive plan before reviewing large projects such as Reunion’s.
Marsh and Marion Trieste, a consultant to Reunion, said the meeting is likely to attract a large crowd of project proponents and opponents.
According to Little, Reunion would like to complete the project and begin delivering electrical power by the end of next year. Cherry Valley has some of the steadiest, strongest wind in the state, he said, and the project could power about 37,000 homes.