NYSERDA Increases hydroelectric, wind and biofuel energy, creating up to $500 million in economic benefits to state and enough clean energy to power 145,000 homes

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the Public Service Commission (PSC) have awarded $191 million to 17 power projects across the state that will produce and deliver renewable electricity to New Yorkers.

In addition to producing clean, renewable energy, NYSERDA estimates that these power projects will produce nearly $500 million in economic benefits over the expected 20-year life of the facilities. The projects will be funded through the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), which is tasked with obtaining at least 30 percent of New York’s electricity come from renewable sources by 2015.

The projects competitively selected include four wind projects, four hydroelectric projects, seven landfill gas-to-electricity projects, and two anaerobic digester projects located at dairy farms. Once operational, the 17 projects will add 315 megawatts of renewable capacity to New York’s generator resource base and produce about 1 million megawatt-hours per year of clean renewable energy. That’s enough clean energy to supply approximately 145,000 homes per year.

“For New York to lead the way in innovation and technology, we must provide the resources and support necessary to enhance clean energy projects today,” Governor Cuomo said. “New York has one of the most ambitious and responsible renewable energy targets in the nation: 30 percent by 2015. These projects represent the future of energy in New York State and will result in a grid that is efficient, affordable, clean and reliable for generations to come. I congratulate the recipients of these awards and thank NYSERDA and the PSC for administering this important program.”

Wind projects selected in this solicitation include:

• Howard Wind Farm, Canisteo, Steuben County
• Stony Creek Wind Farm, Wyoming, Wyoming County
• Allegany Wind Farm, Great Valley, Cattaraugus County
• Marble River Wind Farm, Churubusco, Clinton County

Hydroelectric projects include:

• An expansion at the Stewarts Bridge facility, Corinth, Saratoga County
• Three repowered hydro facilities – Wave Hydro, Baldwinsville, Onondaga County; Wiscoy, Allegany County; and Black Brook, Fillmore, Clinton County

Landfill gas-to-electricity projects include:

• Albany 2 project, Colonie, Albany County
• Hyland, Angelica, Allegany County
• DANC, Rodman, Jefferson County
• Chautauqua, Jamestown, Chautauqua County
• Modern, Youngstown, Niagara County
• Ontario, Stanley, Ontario County
• Seneca, Seneca Falls, Seneca County

Anaerobic digester projects include:

• Bergen Farms, Odessa, Schuyler County
• Windsor Acres, LLC, Harpursville, Broome County

Francis J. Murray Jr., President and CEO of NYSERDA said, “The RPS has been instrumental in attracting private investment in renewable energy and supporting the state’s clean energy agenda. Thanks to Governor Cuomo’s commitment to clean-energy investment, we will help create jobs, improve our environment and strengthen our energy security in New York.”

Garry Brown, Chairman of the PSC said, “The generation of electricity from renewable sources increases energy diversity and promotes a better environment for us all. Renewable energy, along with our energy efficiency efforts, provides our best hope toward ending dependency on fossil fuels, improving regional economies, and reducing harmful emissions.”

Created in 2004 to promote the development of new renewable energy resources, the RPS is funded by a surcharge collected from ratepayers served by investor-owned utility companies. To date, the RPS has supported the development of 56 large-scale projects, including 18 wind farms, 25 hydroelectric facility upgrades, eight landfill-gas projects, three power plants that will partially displace coal with biomass and two anaerobic digester gas facilities.

In total, these facilities will represent more than 1,883 megawatts of new renewable capacity. More information about the RPS program, including the 2010 Annual Performance Report, can be found at www.nyserda.org/rps/documents.asp.

The weighted average price in today’s solicitation is $22.01 per megawatt-hour of production. In addition, NYSERDA is currently seeking proposals for the first round of the RPS regional program (PON 2156), a five-year, $150 million solicitation to fund customer-sited renewable energy projects in the downstate market. Eligible projects for this funding include solar photovoltaic (PV) and biogas-to-electricity technologies. More information can be found at http://www.nyserda.org/funding/2156pon.asp. 

NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect our environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York since 1975.