By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 December 2014 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – Dirk Biemans is co-owner of Intergrow Greenhouses, which built its first 15-acre greenhouse in the Town of Gaines in 2003. The company put on another 7.5-acre greenhouse this year, bringing the total space to 55.5 acres.
Two projects in Orleans County were approved for funding in an announcement today by Gov. Andrew Cuomo through the fourth round of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.
Intergrow Greenhouses on Route 98 in Gaines was awarded $600,000 for a facility upgrade that includes adding “grow lights” to the 7.3 acres of the greenhouse complex. Intergrow will also need to upgrade its electric supply with the project.
Intergrow started in Gaines about a decade ago and has completed several expansions, and now has 55.5 acres of greenhouses. The company grows hydroponic tomatoes and employs about 100 workers.
Orleans County also was approved for $81,500 for its Marine Park along the Oak Orchard River on Route 98 in the Town of Carlton.
The funding will help replace the north stairway and walkway, and also provide shore power service. The county will also prepare a feasibility study to explore options to protect public docking facilities from ice damage.
Orleans County is part of the Finger Lakes Region which was named a “top performer” with $80.7 million approved for 100 projects.
For more on the projects approved in the region and state-wide, click here.
Orleans County was barely touched by the big snowstorm that hit the Buffalo area last month, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo has requested Orleans be included with other counties and be eligible for federal disaster aid.
The governor today said he has requested a major disaster declaration be issued for Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Orleans, St. Lawrence and Wyoming counties due to snowstorm and flooding that occurred from Nov. 18-26.
State and local governments had more than $46.6 million in response costs and infrastructure damage verified as a result of the storm, the governor said. A major disaster declaration for these counties is the next step in seeking financial assistance from the federal government once the $27.3 million damage threshold is met to allow local communities continue to recover.
“Once again, extreme weather came to New York and once again New Yorkers came together to help our neighbors in their time of need,” Cuomo said. “The state, working with communities from every corner of New York, mobilized an unprecedented response to the storm that struck Western New York and the North County. As we continue the recovery process, federal assistance is critical to helping these communities and their residents move beyond this storm and prepare for the rest of the upcoming winter season.”
A total of 14 fatalities and six injuries were attributed to the Lake Effect Snow event. More than 370 structures experienced roof damage from the weight of snow with an additional 38 structures completely destroyed.
In rural communities, barn collapses killed and injured livestock, including cattle and horses. Dairy farmers were forced to dump more than 250,000 pounds of milk. Damages to the agricultural industry alone are estimated at more than $15 million.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 December 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Jeff Davignon, director of Hoag Library, outlines what he said are successes in the library during his first three months on the job. He spoke during Wednesday’s Board of Trustees meeting.
ALBION – In his first three months as director of the Hoag Library, Jeff Davignon has pushed to improve programming, signage and the environment at the library, trying to make the site more welcoming to people of all ages, particularly children, he said during Wednesday’s Board of Trustees meeting.
He believes the community has responded to the changes. He cited a door counter that tracked 9,311 people through the front door of the building from September through November, compared to 4,113 people during the same three months in 2013.
Davignon said the library has added children’s programming, including Minecraft and literacy efforts. The Minecraft game utilizes reading and science on a program where users interact with other players over the Internet.
“They are the future engineers of America,” Davignon said about Minecraft players. “The children are communicating, collaborating and learning STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).”
The Minecraft players are also future adults, as are the other children that use the library, Davignon said. Hoag has created “The Loft” on the second floor for teens to study.
Davignon was criticized at Wednesday’s board meeting by library user Donna Wolcott for not providing enough oversight to teens, who she said use foul language and have public displays of affection.
Davignon said the teen programs and how to engage them is “a work in progress.” But he said he wants to continue to reach out to the age group.
“Having teens in the library has added vitality,” he said. “We’re going to try. We’re going to make an investment and see if it pays off.”
About 40 people attended Wednesdays’ board meeting, the first since last month’s contentious meeting when several residents said they were upset about changes at the library, including the termination of a long-time employee and other resignations or retirements.
The board responded to many of the questions from a month ago with more detail on Wednesday. Trustee Carol Miller spoke about the library’s “progressive levels of discipline” that include three steps before an employee is fired, unless the director deems one offense enough for a firing.
Trustee Linda Smith shared that a committee reviewed 20 applications for the director’s job and narrowed that pool to nine people who were interviewed. Davignon was picked by the committee and the board as the top candidate. He started in late August and is on a six-month probationary period.
Former trustee Patricia Cammarata thanked the board for open dialogue at the meeting. She asked that community members be able to send letters confidentially to one trustee, who would then share that information with other trustees.
Cammarata said some residents have left letters that haven’t been acknowledged by the board or library staff. The board has created an email account – hoaglibrary@gmail.com – to take questions from the community. Letters can also be sent to Hoag Library, 134 South Main St., Albion, NY 14411. Attention: S.L. Board of Trustees.
Cammarata would like the letters to be received away from the library. Library Board President Kevin Doherty wants to check with legal counsel on how to best do that.
Ken Braunbach also addressed the board and said he is disappointed about “character assassinations” some library officials have made in the public about his wife, Mary Anne Braunbach, a former board member and current president of the Friends of the Library.
“You shouldn’t discredit the Friends,” Mr. Braunbach said. “They work very hard finding money for the library, which helps you.”
Mrs. Braunbach addressed the board and she questioned if counting people through the doors has been done accurately, especially with people like herself who make frequent trips to the library, going back and forth to retrieve items from their vehicles.
She also said circulation numbers are the best way to measure if the library is seeing more use.
The circulation numbers weren’t available at the meeting.
Davignon said the library is assessing its collection. He would like to weed out seldom used books and replace them with more popular items.
He would like to establish community focus groups in the new year to help chart the library’s future and its programming. In early 2015, Hoag will introduce a new website, a 3-D printing program, credit card acceptance, and a consistent schedule of interesting programs for children and adults, Davignon said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 December 2014 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – Snell Realtors will list the former Swan Library at the corner of Main and State streets. For 112 years, the site was home to Swan Library. It was vacated in June 2012 when the library moved to the new Hoag Library.
ALBION – The former Swan Library is officially on the market. The Library Board of Trustees voted on Wednesday to hire David Snell from Snell Realtors in Albion to list the site, which was originally built as a mansion in 1851.
It became Albion’s public library in 1900 and stayed that way until June 2012. It was vacated when the library moved to a next site a couple blocks south on Main Street.
The library has received an offer for the Swan site. Board President Kevin Doherty said he can’t disclose the offer or who it is from.
A committee of trustees – Dele Theodorakos, Linda Smith and John Andrews – were assigned to handle the Swan sale. That includes a counter offer to the potential buyer.
The library retained David Snell to develop “comparables” for the building’s value, Doherty said. Other prospective buyers may also step forward once the site is listed.
Theodorakos is a real estate agent. She said the building has asbestos in the basement pipes. It also still has lots of “stuff,” some of value and others that could likely be trashed, she said.
The library used a matching grant last year to remove asbestos from the tiles in the building, but that project didn’t include the lower floor where it will cost $20,000 to $25,000 to remove asbestos. Rather than tackle that project, the library has opted to sell the building “as is.”
The site was eyed as a possible county museum, but Theodorakos said that effort failed to move forward. John Sawyer was leading the push, but he died from leukemia in October 2013.
“There was hope in the possibility but as time went on the probability was dim,” Theodorakos said about developing the site as a museum.
The Swan Library Association owns the building and has been spending $25,000 to $28,000 annually for maintenance, insurance and other costs for the former library, Doherty said.
The site has about 6,000 square feet. The new library has more than 14,000 square feet. The Swan site became too cramped for a modern library and patrons complained there were only a few parking spaces. It is air-conditioned and has an elevator.
Photos by Peggy Barringer – Robert Guzik, center, fills a Red Kettle with an estimated $200 donation this afternoon. He is joined by Tim Brigham, Tops store manager, and Dar Bowman, the Tops customer service manager.
By Peggy Barringer
MEDINA – Robert (Bobby) Guzik has been saving his change all year to donate to the Red Kettle at Tops in Medina. Guzik, 24, of Medina has been blind since birth. He has made a big donation to the Red Kettle in annual tradition for about five years.
“I want to help people,” Bobby said this afternoon. “I’ve seen people having trouble, and I want to help make some people’s lives easier.”
Bobby came in to make the donation with his sister Lois and his grandmother, Gracie, who is a frequent shopper and well known at Tops. They did not exactly how much was in the small backpack and quart jar filled with coins. Customer service manager, Dar Bowman, estimated there was “about $200.”
Gracie said she was happy her grandson was putting the money in the Red Kettle. She won’t have to count the pennies and put them in sleeves. She said Bobby learned from his grandfather to be kind.
Bobby Guzik gets ready to fill the Red Kettle with some asisstance from Tops store officials.
“I’m glad to be helping people,” Bobby said. “I live the life that I do even though I’m blind.”
Ronnie Barhite is coordinator for the Red Kettle in Medina. Proceeds from the drive go to Community Action programs in Orleans County.
“The money stays in Orleans County and goes to various organizations used to help keep people in their homes, and with food, medicine, and utilities,” Barhite said.
Bobby has lived in Medina all his life and went to public school. He graduated from Medina High School with honors. He went on to graduate from Genesee Community College in 2012, earning two degrees in Computer Support & Operations and Computer Systems and Network Technology. He volunteers at GCC’s radio station, WGCC, helping with “technical stuff.”
He said the radio station received all new equipment last week and he has been helping to set everything up. He also fixes computers. He is currently looking for employment.
Orleans Hub and The Daily News of Batavia were both there when Bobby made his donation today.
“My friends will be happy to see me in the paper,” Bobby said.
A generous Secret Santa sweetened the pot with a $100 bill.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House of Representatives narrowly approved a $1.1 trillion spending package on Thursday that will fund most of the federal government’s operations for a fiscal year.
Congressman Chris Collins, R-Clarence, was among the representatives who supported the accord, which passed 219 to 206.
“This legislation is a tremendous win for Western New York,” Collins said in a statement issued tonight. “It holds the line on discretionary spending ensuring continued deficit reduction, while fully funding vital government programs. In politics it is crucial not to let perfect be the enemy of good, and although people on both sides have their concerns, I’m proud of what this accomplishes for Western New York.”
Collins highlighted the following from the bill that he said directly affect Western New Yorkers.
Provides $122 million for the improvement and expansion of the VA Medical Facility in Canandaigua.
Provides $68 million for OMEGA at the University of Rochester to expand their nuclear fusion laser lab facility.
Increases funding for the National Institutes of Health grant programs that help fund research centers like the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo.
Eliminates funding for the Race to the Top Initiative, reducing the incentive for States to continue the implementation of the Common Core Standards.
Blocks the EPA from applying the Clean Water Act to certain farm ponds and irrigation ditches.
Allows more flexibility to school districts implementing new whole grain nutrition standards in school lunches.
Cuts EPA funding for the fifth consecutive year and brings staffing to the lowest level since 1989.
Cuts IRS funding by $345.6 million and bans the agency from targeting organizations seeking tax-exempt status based on their ideological beliefs.
Provides $300 million to improve and restore the Great Lakes.
Increases funding for the Harbor Maintenance Trust fund by $100 million.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 December 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – From left: Dale Banker, Orleans County Emergency Management Office director; John DeYoung of the Clarendon Fire Company; Bob Freida, Clarendon fire chief; Rocky Sidari, Albion fire chief, Stan Farone, Albion firefighter; County Legislator Lynne Johnson, Jason Watts, Shelby fire chief; Joe Morlino, captain with Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Company; and County Legislator Ken DeRoller.
The Orleans County Legislature commended volunteer firefighters who went to the Buffalo area after a monster snowstorm hit beginning Nov. 18.
In all, 60 firefighters from the county would serve at least a shift in the Buffalo area, with many of those volunteers staying for several days.
“Our volunteers stood ready and were available to help our neighbors,” County Legislator Lynne Johnson said today during the Legislature meeting.
Firefighters went from the following fire departments: Albion, Barre, Carlton, Clarendon, East Shelby, Fancher-Hulberton-Murray, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville, Ridgeway and Shelby. Some of those departments brought along fire trucks and off-track four-wheelers.
Dale Banker, the county emergency management director, coordinated the efforts from the local firefighters with Erie County fire departments that needed help.
Banker said the 60 firefighters collectively gave about 3,000 hours in Erie County.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 December 2014 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – The former Starlite Dry Cleaners has been vacant on Main Street in Medina since a fire damaged the building a decade ago. Environmental concerns have been a holdup in the site’s redevelopment.
MEDINA – The village is taking another step in trying to remove obstacles for redeveloping two vacant storefronts on Main Street.
The former Starlite Dry Cleaners at 331 North Main St. has been empty since a fire in the building a decade ago. Its neighbor at 333 North Main also is vacant.
Before a redevelopment can move forward, the village will need to assess the extent of any contamination at the two buildings.
Great Lakes Environmental in Buffalo said remediating the side-by-side sites, with a partial takedown, would cost $177,000.
Addressing the environmental issues is critical for the two sites to be contributing locations to Medina’s Main Street and community, said Mayor Andrew Meier. The village plans to seek state Superfund asisstance to help with the redevelopment.
Before it can get to that step, the village needs to make the buildings safe to enter for closer inspection. The Village Board on Monday hired Marks Engineering in Palmyra at a cost not to exceed $1,495 to help with that task.
“There has been interest in both parcels, but the environmental issues have been a real buzz-kill,” Meier said at Monday’s Village Board meeting.
Marks will work as consultant with the village on the project, helping to determine demolition and removal of unstable, burned-out portions of the building. The company will evaluate demolition options, evaluate subcontractors, prepare estimated contractor fees and correspond with the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
“We need to determine if and what extent the contamination,” Meier said. “This will allow for the next steps.”
A previous owner stopped paying taxes at Starlite. Normally the property would then be owned by Orleans County, but the county hasn’t accepted the property due to the potential environmental liabilities.
Meier and the Village Board want to get the sites back as contributing assets for the community.
Marks will also work with the village as it deals with the DEC with potential costs for cleanup of hazardous substances and wastes at the Medina MGP site, located in the footprint of the Canal Basin parking lot west of Starlite.
The DEC has notified the village it will be expected to reimburse the state for any costs by the DEC to clean up that site. Marks will work with the village in responding with the DEC.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 December 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Students at Gotta Dance by Miss Amy practice for Saturday’s 5th annual Nicholas Kovaleski Hometown Christmas. Laiken Ricker, center in front, is among the dancers in an advanced jazz class taught by Claire Albertson.
They will be part of three performances on Saturday at Holy Family Parish Lyceum with shows at noon, 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Albion will be busy on Saturday with many holiday events as part of the third annual Hometown Holiday sponsored by the Albion Merchants Association. There are events planned at 16 sites in the downtown and on Main Street.
Some new activities include breakfast with Santa at the Masonic Lodge at 39 Platt St. (Seating is limited. Call 331-7103 for reservations.)
A children’s penny carnival has been moved from the fire hall to Hoag Library. There will be plenty of games and prizes and 25-cent popcorn and hot chocolate. Sheets for a coloring contest will also be at the library and the entries will be displayed at Save-A-Lot.
File photo – Santa will be at Salih Studio from 1 to 3 p.m. for photos for $10.
Mrs. Claus will be visiting Knight’s Pride from 1 to 3 p.m. to enjoy cookies, crafts and cards. Other stores will have face painting (El Gallo), letter writing to Santa (Downtown Browsery), decorating an ornament (Empire Trading), cookie decorating and hot chocolate (Hazy Jade), a scavenger hunt (Main Street Store), and gift wrapping (Uptown Browsery).
In addition, holiday-goers can decorate a pillow (Flying Needle and Thread), create holiday gift tags (Mmim), taste wine (Plaza Liquor) and enter in raffles for a television and other prizes (Xpress Fitness and Tanning).
Pullman Memorial Universalist Church will also be open for an art show and tour.
Bindings Bookstore will also be hosting two book-signings: “The Grocery Man” with Donna Rhodey at 11 a.m. and “Josie and the Singing Butterfly” with Josie Waverly from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
“It’s a community event to bring the community together and bring people to the downtown,” said Carolyn Ricker, president of the Merchants Association.
The event coincides with the Hometown Holiday event at the lyceum. About 50 performers will be in the show, including newcomers Josie Waverly and Rachel Curtin, the Albion Elementary School principal. Waverly for the first time will also sing publicly with Marcy Downey, an Albion native and professional singer.
Proceeds from Hometown Christmas go to a memorial scholarship for Nicholas Kovaleski. He inspired the Albion community with his valiant fight against leukemia. He died at age 15 on June 29, 2011. He was a popular student at Albion, excelling at football, swimming and tennis. He would have graduated last June and likely would be a college freshman.
“The empathy and love the community has for him carries on,” said Amy Sidari, Gotta Dance owner and Hometown organizer. “We are living with purpose as he lived.”
For more information on Hometown Christmas, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 December 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
MEDINA – Medina National Honor Society members Aaron Feltz, left, and Jason Hellwig raised money for the annual Red Kettle Drive this evening at the Tops store in Medina.
The National Honor Society makes big commitment to the Red Kettle, volunteering in shifts from 3 to 8:30 p.m. on weekdays. They started on Monday and will commit to 2 ½ weeks at the Red Kettle, with their final day on Dec. 23.
“They do a great job,” said Ronnie Barhite, the Red Kettle coordinator for Medina. “The kids are nice and friendly.”
Medina National Honor Society students Jenna Kickbush, left, and Amanda McCauley were joined in ringing the bell for the Salvation Army kettle this evening by student Shane Freeman, center. Shane was there to work towards a 10-hour community service requirement to graduate. All Medina students need to fulfill at least 10 hours of community service to graduate.
Having those 5 ½ hours covered each weekday also gives Barhite peace of mind knowing the kettle is being run by energetic bell ringers.
Feltz, NHS treasurer, said he has more success getting donations by making eye contact and greeting the shoppers.
Hellwig, the NHS president, tries to engage people in conversation.
“We’ve got to know a lot of people out in the community,” he said.
The Red Kettle Drive in Orleans County benefits Community Action. The agency hopes to raise about $25,000 through the drive.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 December 2014 at 12:00 am
MEDINA – The Village Board has set Jan. 12 for two public hearings, one to establish a 15-minute parking space by Napa Auto Parts and the other to establish regulations for temporary storage shelters.
Napa owner Craig Lacy requested two 15-minute spots by the business at 345 North Main St. The Village Board wants to try one first and see if that eases the parking problem for Napa.
The village has a 2-hour parking limit on Main Street, but village officials agree many motorists overstay that limit.
Police Chief Jose Avila said the police department asks people to move if there are complaints and they stay in one spot beyond two hours. Police officers will give tickets if motorists complain and don’t move.
The Napa spot is different than most on Main Street because the business is at the corner of Main Street and a one-lane road leading into the Canal Basin parking lot, Village Trustee Marguerite Sherman said.
She doesn’t want to create 15-minute spots all along Main Street, but she said Napa is in an unusual position at the corner of the one-lane road. The Napa spots also get used by tenants in some of the upper floor apartments.
“I support the one spot but I don’t want to open up a can of worms,” she said.
Chief Avila supports the one 15-minute spot and he said the village could always add another if needed.
Medina will have the hearing on the 15-minute spot at 5 p.m. on Jan. 12 at the Shelby Town Hall. The 15-minute spot would apply from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The village also set at 5:05 p.m. hearing on Jan. 12 for temporary storage shelters. Code Enforcement Officer Martin Busch said the temporary storage containers – Pods and shipping containers – are becoming increasingly popular.
Some of these containers stay on sites for months, resulting in deteriorating appearance in property and in complaints, Planning Board Chairman Chris Busch wrote in a letter to the Village Board.
The Planning Board has proposed regulations for temporary storage containers that establish them as portable storage units without a permanent foundation. They may include cargo containers, truck trailers, construction trailers and bulk solid waste containers.
The village is proposing a maximum of two cargo containers per site for no more than 60 days per calendar year. If homeowners suffer a fire or flood and need the container longer, they can seek a demolition or building permit with the cargo container to be removed a week after the demo or building permit expires.
The regulation proposes similar standards for portable storage containers and establishes setback requirements.
Semi-truck trailers are limited to commercial or residential sites. Construction trailers are allowed in commercial, residential and industrial sites but must be removed a week after a building permit expires or certificate of occupancy is issued.
Bulk solid waste containers are allowed for up to 45 days in a year. They must be kept at least 5 feet from side and rear property lines and at least 10 feet from front property lines, according to the proposed regulation.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R-Batavia ) is looking to make the $5 billion surplus from the Paribus Bank lawsuit work for the people of Western New York. He’s proposing the money go toward eliminating the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) that callously cut funding from our schools, providing better broadband access, and improving local roads and bridges to better accommodate the agricultural and tourism economies.
“A lot has been said and is going to be said about the opportunities that this $5 billion surplus affords our state,” Hawley said. “I will be fighting for the elimination of the GEA, which has caused our schools a great hardship over the past few years. We must restore these cuts and make sure our schools receive the funding necessary to provide an equal education for all students.”
Many residents and businesses do not have access to high-speed Internet. “In rural communities like mine, we struggle with access to broadband internet connection,” Hawley said. “We can use these funds to ensure all New Yorkers have access to broadband internet, and continue moving New York ‘s economy into the 21st century.”
The state should also direct some of the $5 billion towards infrastructure, Hawley said. “We also have bridges and roads that are not structurally capable of handling our growing agricultural economy. This is stifling the growth of our regional and state economies. By repairing these bridges and ensuring they have the capacity to carry the products created by our agricultural-based economy as well as support the plows needed to clear our roadways during the winter months, we can make a remarkable difference not just in our community and in Western New York, but across the state.”
ALBION – Many local families touched by the loss of a loved one attended the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on the front lawn of Hospice offices on Saturday. The white pine tree was generously donated by Gerry Culhane. The tree was decorated with special memorial ribbons and ornaments in memory of family, friends and loved ones.
Craig Lape sang “I Believe There are Angels Among Us,” a song that speaks to the important role of comfort and support the staff and volunteers provide to those served and their families.
Following a short ceremony with reflections by Pastor Linda Haight, the Memorial Tree was illuminated. After a moment of silence and remembrance, the community joined with staff for a reception in the conference center.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 December 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – I’ve posted quite a few pictures of the Lyndonville waterfalls since the Orleans Hub started in April 2013. It’s a can’t miss spot.
These waterfalls plunge about 11 feet along Johnson Creek. I’ve been trying to come up with angles and vantage points for some of the familiar local spots.
Today I tried some pictures of the waterfalls looking through the bridge on Main Street. Sometimes I can’t decide which is the best picture. I asked my wife for help and she liked the photo above.
I like this one best of the waterfalls, looking under the bridge.
I also took this one from near the top of the waterfalls looking towards Veterans Park where there are 43 Christmas trees decorated. They will be up until a little after New Year’s Day.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 December 2014 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Dan Fitzgerald (second from left), project manager for Apex Clean Energy, meets with residents during a public meeting today at the Yates Town Hall. He is joined by Dahvi Wilson, Apex communications manager, at left.
LYNDONVILLE – Apex Clean Energy would like to build 60 to 68 wind turbines Yates and Somerset, structures that could tower nearly 600 feet in the two rural lakeshore towns.
The projects would bring the prospect of significant revenue to the towns, school districts and Orleans and Niagara counties, while also paying landowners to have the turbines on their land.
“Both the landowners and towns stand to profit,” said Taylor Quarles, development manager for Apex.
“Lighthouse Wind” would generate 200 megawatts of power, enough to power 59,000 homes. Each turbine would generate about 3 megawatts of power, up from the 1.5 to 1.8 megawatts with turbines about a decade ago.
The company is in the early stages of the project. It has lined up leases with some landowners, but will need more to make the project a reality, Quarles said.
Dudley Chaffee is a dairy farmer with land in both towns. He has been approached to lease land for turbines. He hasn’t signed off on a 30-year lease.
“It looks like a good deal,” he said at an informational meeting today at the Yates Town Hall.
Chaffee has dairy farmer friends in Wyoming County. They told him the construction portion of the projects can be disruptive to the land. But once the turbines are up, they take up a small footprint and the farms coexist with the structures.
“One guy in Wyoming County told me he’d do it again in a minute,” Chaffee said.
More than 60 people attended to the meeting to look over information from Apex Clean Energy.
Cathi Orr lived in Orangeville, a Wyoming County town. She moved to Somerset last January to get away from the turbines, which she said are noisy.
“They go ‘thump, thump,” she said. “They make a creaky noise.”
She had 21 within a 1 ½ miles of her house. She was part of the Clear Skies Over Orangeville group that opposed the turbines. She knew Somerset had been approached before about a wind farm, but she thought that project had gone away.
Apex wasn’t involved the other project. The company is eyeing a different project with taller turbines. The added height allows the turbines to reach faster moving wind.
Turbines with blades that peak abut 400 to 450 feet, like many in Wyoming County, weren’t quite tall enough to get the stronger, more consistent wind, Apex said.
At a higher distance, there is likely enough wind, Apex officials said. They have one meteorological tower up on Lakeshore Road in Somerset to test wind strength. Quarles said they could put up four or five more in the target area that is west of Route 63 in Yates and most of Somerset. The project eyes the northern half of the towns, where there is lots of open farmland, another plus for the project, said Dan Fitzgerald, project manager.
A major transmission line also runs through Somerset, which would allow Apex to tap in and get its power to the market. That is another attraction for siting the project in Somerset and western Yates, he said.
Fitzgerald was one of four Apex officials at a public information meeting today at Yates Town Hall. The company had a similar meeting in Barker in October. Apex will have more informational meetings to explain the project and its benefits to the community, Fitzgerald said.
“This is in the very beginning of the project,” he said today at the Yates meeting. “We’re still a ways out.”
The company is going through a required 150-day public involvement effort. To see that 60-page public involvement plan, click here.
Fitzgerald said the company will continue to meet with the public after the 150-day period, which started Oct. 31. The company will reach out to the Amish and Mennonite communities, as well as other residents and officials.
“The goal is to make sure everyone in the community knows about the project,” Quarles said.
Apex will follow the public involvement period with a preliminary scoping document that would assess environmental impacts, including potential harm to birds, wildlife and other issues. The company will need to consult with the FFA on flight pattern impacts, especially with the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.
The company will need to secure approvals through local, state and federal agencies. Fitzgerald said construction on the project could start in 2018 if the agencies, landowners and experts all see Yates and Somerset as a good spot for the project.
