New York Regulator Reaffirms Approval of Innogy’s 242 Megawatt Wind Project

The New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment on Sept. 3 denied petitions seeking rehearing of the agency’s decision permitting Baron Winds LLC to construct a 242-megawatt wind energy project in Steuben County. Petitioners challenged the approval of amendments to the siting permit in May on grounds that the board did not to consider the potential enactment of a local law concerning turbine heights.

In reaffirming its approval, the board said that it is not required to reassess projects for compliance with new local laws passed after a final decision. The board explained that there is no requirement to reverse a decision or delay issuing a decision because a town is considering a new local law.

The project is forecasted to generate over $44.2 million for the local economy and create more than 135 direct construction jobs. The facility will be built in two phases, adding 166.6 megawatts in the initial phase along with associated facilities, which include electrical lines, access roads, and a substation. The board also approved the developer’s compliance filings related to conditions for construction and operational impact mitigation, including details on communication protocols, a plan to address complaints during construction and operations, and providing $20,000 for recreational or aesthetic mitigation for the Loon Lake in Steuben County.

The siting board has determined that the project will be a beneficial addition to New York’s electric generation capacity and is consistent with the state’s energy policy goals. The facility will support the goals of fuel diversity, grid reliability, and modernization of grid infrastructure. The 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act sets the state on the path to achieve economy wide carbon neutrality and zero-emissions electricity sector by 2040. The law requires the state to transition to a carbon-neutral power system by 2040, establishing targets of 6 gigawatts of solar by 2025, 3 gigawatts of energy storage by 2030, and 9 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035.

Baron Winds LLC is a subsidiary of the German energy company Innogy SE.