Economic Benefits and Timeline of Wind Projects in Upstate New York
Upstate New York Communities have benefited from clean and renewable energy generated from wind projects. They have helped support schools, created local jobs, and have given communities economic benefits.
COPENHAGEN • 80 MW • 40 turbines • January 2019 • Lewis & Jefferson Counties • Towns of Denmark, Champion & Rutland
The Copenhagen wind farm created about 200 jobs during construction. Each year, a minimum of $8,400 per megawatt per year will be paid to Lewis County, the town of Denmark, and the school district. This will increase with inflation to $13,429 per megawatt by the end of the project’s 20 year lifespan. In the first year of construction alone, the town of Denmark is to receive $430,000 from Copenhagen Wind in Host Community fees.
ARKWRIGHT SUMMIT • 78.4 MW • 36 turbines • October 2018 • Chautauqua County • Town of Arkwright
The Arkwright Summit wind farm will pay a minimum of $4,000 per megawatt per year to the county, town, and school district in PILOT payments, which will increase with inflation. The town of Arkwright will receive a minimum of $3,800 per megawatt per year in Host Community payments, which will also increase with inflation. These payments will continue over the 30 year lifespan of the project.
JERICHO RISE • 77.7 MW • 37 turbines • December 2016 Franklin County • Towns of Chateaugay & Belmont
The Jericho Rise Wind Farm created 189 jobs during construction and 19 permanent positions. Each year, a base payment of $3,000 per megawatt is distributed amongst the taxing jurisdictions, and $1,000 per megawatt goes to the school district in PILOT payments. The towns of Chateaugay and Belmont will receive an additional base payment of $5,000 per megawatt per year in a Host Community agreement. These amounts will increase with inflation. In 2018, Jericho Rise paid a total of $1,089,000 in PILOT, Host Community, and Economic Development fees.
ORANGEVILLE • 94 MW • 58 turbines • March 2014 Wyoming County • Town of Orangeville
The Orangeville Wind Farm created 100 construction jobs and 4 permanent positions. In the first 3 years, they paid $483,452.85 in Pilot payments to Wyoming County, the Town of Orangeville, the Warsaw Central School and the Attica Central School. According to the Orangeville Town Budget, in 2018 they received $517,342.44 in Host Community fees. These numbers will increase with inflation over the 15 year lifespan of the project.
MARSH HILL • 16.2 MW • 10 turbines • January 2014 Steuben County • Town of Jasper
The Marsh Hill wind farm pays $5,300 per megawatt, amounting to about $85,860, per year to the county, town, and school district in PILOT payments. This payment will continue through the 20 year lifespan of the project. This project created 70 temporary construction jobs and two permanent positions. A quote from the Jasper Town Supervisor at the time, Lucille Kernan, says, “The project is a large investment in Jasper, and the longterm payments it will be making to the Town will enable us to keep taxes low. That's a huge help to our citizens, including retirees and local farmers."
MARBLE RIVER • 216 MW • 70 turbines • November 2012 Clinton County • Towns of Clinton & Ellenburg
Each year, Marble River will pay a minimum of $6,000 per megawatt to the county, towns and school district. Each town will also receive at lease $3,000 per megawatt each year in Host Community payments. Both these amounts will increase with inflation over the 20 year lifespan of the project. This project created 306 temporary construction jobs and 13 permanent positions.
HOWARD • 55.35 MW • 27 turbines • February 2012 Steuben County • Town of Howard
A quote from Don Evia, the Howard town supervisor, says, “This is a Rural Community. We don’t have industry coming in and helping us with taxes. We’ve never seen something like this that can help offset land taxes. This will bring us some relief for 20 years, and hopefully into the future after that.” This project has will have paid out approximately $2,971,518.44 in PILOT payments, according to the original PILOT Agreement.
STEEL WINDS 1&2 • 35 MW • 14 turbines • April 2007/January 2012 • Erie County • City of Lackawanna and Town of Hamburg
Steel Winds was developed on a former steel mill that had been abandoned for 20 years. It breathed live into the community, and created 140 construction jobs and 4 permanent positions. This sparked other new developments in the area, such as a community center, commerce center, 110 acre greenway and bike path, and a clean burning power plant.
HARDSCRABBLE • 74 MW • 37 turbines • March 2011 Herkimer County • Towns of Little Falls, Norway, & Fairsfield
Hardscrabble wind pays a minimum of $8,500 per megawatt per year in PILOT payments to the county, towns, and school districts, which increases with inflation. According to the Avangrid Renewables website, “The clean, homegrown energy produced at Hardscrabble has a pollution-offset equal to removing an estimated 26,000 cars from the road each year.
NOBLE WETHERSFIELD • 126 MW • 84 turbines • March 2009 • Wyoming County • Town of Wethersfield
From 2009 through 2018, the Noble Wethersfield Wind Farm paid a total of $1,992,674.92 in PILOT payments to the county, towns, and school districts. The towns of Wethersfield and Orangeville receive a minimum of $6,692 per megawatt per year. These numbers will continue to increase with inflation over the 15 year lifespan of the project.
HIGH SHELDON • 112.5 MW• 75 turbines • March 2009 Wyoming County • Towns of Sheldon & Wethersfield
For the first five years of the project, the town of Sheldon was able to eliminate taxes. Over the past 8 years of the project, $1,529,069.69 was paid in PILOT fees to the county, town and school district. The Town of Sheldon receives a minimum of $6,693 per megawatt per year in Host Community fees. This will continue to increase with inflation over the 15 year lifespan of the project.
MAPLE RIDGE • 321.75 MW • 195 turbines • January 2006• Lewis County • Towns of Martinsburg, Lowville, Harrisburg and Watson
Maple Ridge is the largest wind farm in New York. This project created 30 local permanent jobs. With the revenue from Maple Ridge, the Lowville school was able to start offering AP classes, give every student grades 3 through 12 a laptop, redo athletic fields, and more. School superintendent Cheryl Steckly says, “The wind project is certainly a part of our district’s landscape. Our students go to the wind farm for field trips. They study wind and green energy in their classrooms. We have a swim team called ‘The Turbines’ that practices here.” According to Jeremy Kelly, a local restaurant owner, “The benefits that wind farms bring to the community are greater than any potential disadvantages.” The school district has been able to do a lot more projects and
MUNNSVILLE • 34.5 MW • 23 turbines • November 2007• Madison County • Towns of Stockbridge, Eaton, Madison and Augusta
The Munnsville wind farm pays a minimum of $8,000 per megawatt per year, divided amongst the County, towns, and school districts. This payment will continue to increase with inflation over the 15 year lifespan of the project
MAPLE RIDGE • 321.75 MW • 195 turbines • January 2006• Lewis County • Towns of Martinsburg, Lowville, Harrisburg and Watson
Maple Ridge is the largest wind farm in New York. This project created 30 local permanent jobs. With the revenue from Maple Ridge, the Lowville school was able to start offering AP classes, give every student grades 3 through 12 a laptop, redo athletic fields, and more. School superintendent Cheryl Steckly says, “The wind project is certainly a part of our district’s landscape. Our students go to the wind farm for field trips. They study wind and green energy in their classrooms. We have a swim team called ‘The Turbines’ that practices here.” According to Jeremy Kelly, a local restaurant owner, “The benefits that wind farms bring to the community are greater than any potential disadvantages.” The school district has been able to do a lot more projects.
FENNER WIND FARM • 30 MW • 20 turbines • December 2001• Madison County• Town of Fenner
In the first year of the PILOT, Fenner Wind paid $1,375 per megawatt in PILOT fees and $5,000 per megawatt in Host Community fees, which continued for 15 years. A new upgraded PILOT agreement is currently in the works
WETHERSFIELD WIND FARM • 6.6 MW • 10 turbines October 2000• Wyoming County• Town of Wethersfield
The Wethersfield project was the first of 5 operational wind farms in Wyoming County.
MADISON WIND FARM• 11.6 MW• 7 turbines September 2000 • Madison County • Town of Madison
This is the oldest operating wind farm in New York. $7.7 million was spent within 50 miles of the wind farm through 2016.
COHOCTON/DUTCH HILL • 125 MW • 35 turbines • January 2009 • Steuben County • Towns of Cohocton, Avoca & Prattsburgh
According to the original PILOT agreement, Cohocton Wind started off in 2009 paying $500 per megawatt in PILOT payments, which has increased to $6,329 per megawatt in 2019. According to the original Host Community Agreement, they will also pay the Town of Cohocton $2,515 per megawatt in 2019. With this revenue, Cohocton has been able to reduce property tax by 60%, as well as perform maintenance throughout the town.
NOBLE CHATEAUGAY • 107 MW • 71 turbines • January 2009 • Franklin County • Town of Chateaugay
Noble Chateaugay created hundreds of temporary construction jobs and 6 permanent positions. The Town of Chateaugay has a Host Community Agreement that pays a minimum of $3,000 per megawatt, totaling to about $321,000 per year, which will increase with inflation. The county, town and school district also receives PILOT payments of $3,000 per megawatt, subject to inflation
NOBLE ALTONA • 97.5 MW• 65 turbines • January 2009 Clinton County • Town of Altona
The Town of Altona receives a minimum of $3,000 per megawatt, approximately $292,500, per year from a Host Community Agreement. This number will continue to increase with inflation over the 20 year lifespan of the project. The county, town and school district also receive PILOT payments each year. Hundreds of temporary construction jobs were created, along with 7 permanent positions.
NOBLE CLINTON • 102 MW • 67 turbines • April 2008 Clinton County • Town of Clinton
According to the project website, “Over 20 years, the Noble Clinton Windpark will create an estimated $79,600,000 in local economic benefits.” Hundreds of temporary construction jobs and 7 permanent positions were created. Each year, the county, town, and school district will receive a minimum of $6,000 per megawatt per year in PILOT payments, subject to inflation. The Town of Clinton will receive an additional $3,000 per megawatt per year, subject to inflation, in Host Community fees.
NOBLE BLISS • 101 MW• 67 turbines • March 2008 • Wyoming County • Towns of Eagle & Arcade
Since the start of the project, Noble has paid a total of $1,758,941.22 to Wyoming County, each town, and the school districts, as of 2018. The Town of Eagle also receives a minimum of $6,400 per megawatt per year in the Host Community Agreement, which will increase with inflation. With this revenue, the Town of Eagle has eliminated taxes and garbage fees.
NOBLE ELLENBURG • 81 MW • 54 turbines • March 2008 Clinton County• Town of Ellenburg
The Town of Ellenburg receives a minimum of $3,000 per megawatt, around $243,000 per year, in Host Community payments, which increase with inflation. According to David Leonard, the town supervisor in 2014, “The town has been able to keep its tax rate low and stable during the six years Noble Environmental Energy has operated its Ellenburg Wind Park.” Hundreds of temporary construction and six permanent jobs were created.