New York Regulator Clears RES’ 100-Megawatt Wind Power Project

The New York State Public Service Commission on April 18 approved Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. to construct its proposed Ball Hill Wind Energy Project in Chautauqua County. The project has a contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for the sale of renewable energy certificates, and also intends to sell its output on a competitive basis.

The agency granted a “lightened ratemaking regime” for the project as it will be developed and operated on a merchant basis and will take part in the wholesale energy markets. The commission said that it has adapted its regulation of corporations that own or manage power plants, in order to accommodate the development of competitive markets and lightened ratemaking regulation policies. The agency has determined that lightly-regulated entities may be exempt from certain provisions related to retail service because they do not supply captive utility customers.

The 100-megawatt facility will include nearly 26 miles of 34.5 kilovolt mostly underground electrical system and a substation to interconnect with the National Grid system in the Town of Hanover. In December 2016, the commission ruled that the Ball Hill Wind project is not required to undergo the Article 10 review required for major power generation projects, as it was initiated in 2008, three years before Article 10 was enacted.

The project will represent a large portion of the local tax base once it begins operations and support the state’s goals of improving fuel diversity, grid reliability, and infrastructure modernization, according to the agency.

Renewable Energy Systems Americas is a subsidiary of Renewable Energy Systems Ltd.