Wind projects help environment, economy

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Lewis County is the leader in wind energy in New York. Beginning with the 195-tower Maple Ridge Wind Farm commissioned in 2005, our community has been open for wind development. There are two new projects in process in Lewis County that would add 150 megawatts of renewable energy to New York state, enough to power an average of 50,000 homes. Our county, towns and school districts are active in the permitting process to make sure that tax agreements are in place to benefit the entire community.

The Maple Ridge Wind Farm has brought very significant economic benefits to Lewis County. The tax agreements have brought millions of dollars of revenue to four towns, three school districts and the county. The farm employs about 35 full-time staff and regularly brings contractors into the community. The initial construction period injected millions of dollars into local businesses for building supplies. And with hundreds of construction workers, thousands of additional dollars were spent at our local small businesses. The towns and school districts that are home to this project are economically healthy at a time when many small rural communities are not in that position. Wind power has helped our schools, our towns and our taxpayers.

Wind development didn’t come to Lewis County without state action. A statewide policy known as the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, created in 2006, attracted wind companies by providing market demand for clean energy and enough certainty to get projects financed and built. This 10-year policy expires at the end of this year.

With new wind projects proposed for Lewis County, an effective RPS policy would continue to attract investment and create jobs in our county and state. Our county strongly supports these projects to create additional green energy. We welcome the opportunity to partner with well-sited wind projects in Lewis County. The beautiful Tug Hill Plateau is an area where agriculture is challenging and recreation and energy development have become the primary economic accelerators.

As the RPS comes to an end, so may these innovative, clean and profitable energy projects unless it is reauthorized. It is important to reinvest energy dollars into new, green energy projects. We believe Gov. Andrew Cuomo should strengthen and extend the RPS for New York because we know clean energy can be a solution that transforms our energy production and helps places like Lewis County.

Michael Tabolt

Lowville

The writer is chairman of the Lewis County Board of Legislators.

Wind projects help environment, economy