Press Release, Assemblyman Mike Norris

Assemblyman Mike Norris (R,C,I-Lockport) is proud to share that following the launch of his new legislation known as the New York Business Emergency Relief Act, the Assembly Minority Conference announced today it has chosen to include the entirety of the plan in its omnibus 2021 pro-business package, Jump-Start New York: A Plan for Economic Recovery.

“I am proud to work together with my colleagues to get New York back to work,” said Norris. “This bill would get people back to work, and our larger plan helps protect businesses and jobs for the future. It’s a real, substantial plan to get our economy back on its feet. After months of a shutdown, unemployment, uncertainty and talk, New Yorkers need and deserve action. I hope our colleagues across the aisle will take action on this plan to help us move New York’s economy forward.”

Aiming to help employers who were forced to close through no fault of their own, the New York Business Emergency Relief Act of 2021 would provide businesses that were deemed “nonessential” with direct aid grants to offset lost income as a result of the governor’s executive orders.

These businesses could include small retailers, historic sites, barber shops, gyms and movie theaters, among others. Funding for these grants would come from redirecting unused state settlement funding awarded to the state or repurposing economic development funding from programs like START-UP NY, a program that many even questioned the effectiveness of to begin with.

In addition to the New York Business Emergency Relief Act of 2021, Jump-Start New York: A Plan for Economic Recovery includes 17 other economic development initiatives, and proposals which would restore legislative authority and remove the governor’s temporary expanded powers and calls for federal actions such as direct aid to schools and local governments. Further, the plan would expand local authority in times of emergency and create a Joint Senate/Assembly Emergency Operations Committee to provide direction and oversight during future state emergencies.

The plan also would allow nursing home residents to designate a loved one to be their “essential person” that would be able to visit and check up on them, even during times like those our state has experienced during the past year.

Other economic development proposals in the plan include repurposing the Regional Economic Development Councils, reevaluating red and orange zone designations, increasing rural internet access, supporting the agriculture industry, waiving certain licensing or fees, providing aid to landlords, extending or waiving certain regulations and providing tax credits. A full copy of the plan can be viewed by clicking here.

HARTLAND – The Greek Cuisine Restaurant located at 7790 Ridge Rd. in the Town of Hartland was damaged in a fire this morning.

The Niagara County Sheriff’s office said firefighters were dispatched to the restaurant at 6:51 a.m. There was an active fire in the kitchen and the building’s fire suppression system was activated.

The fire was subsequently extinguished by members of the Gasport, Hartland and Wright’s Corners Volunteer Fire Companies. The building additionally sustained heavy smoke damage throughout due to the fire.

The restaurant was unoccupied at the time and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation and an estimated value of loss is not available at this time. An investigation by the Niagara County Origin and Cause Team is continuing.

“We will be closed until further notice due to recent events,” Greek Cuisine posted on its Facebook Page. “Although this has set us back we hope we will be able to pull through and make a comeback. We at Greek Cuisine want to take the time to thank everyone for your support.”

LYNDONVILLE – The school district will hold a virtual forum on  Jan. 19 to hear from parents about the district’s plan for spending the remaining $25,000 from the Smart Schools Bond Act.

Lyndonville school officials want to use the $25,000 to create a replacement cycle for Chromebooks.

The forum will be from 5 to 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 19. To sign up for this virtual forum on Google Meets, email aslack@lcsdk12.org to confirm your participation.

Lyndonville was approved for $733,151 as part of a $2 billion Smart Schools Bond Act, which was passed by NY voters in 2014. (In Orleans County, the five school districts were approved for about $7 million combined in technology aid with $2,238,441 for Albion; $1,311,463 for Holley; $967,959 for Kendall; $733,151 for Lyndonville; and $2,000,222 for Medina.)

The state has approved several projects for Lyndonville as part of the Smart Schools Bond Act, including $89,900 in February 2020 for classroom technology. The state approved $315,600 in July 2017 for “connectivity” with new routers, network improvements, switches, wireless access points, and classrooms hardwired for computers. Those improvements put in computer infrastructure to allow Lyndonville to add laptops, desktop computers, computer servers and more white boards.

The state Education Department in August 2016 also approved $165,000 for Lyndonville with classroom technology, including interactive white boards, said Jason Smith, the school district superintendent.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Volunteers, nearly all for the first time this morning, help distribute food in Albion from the parking lot at the Main Street Thrift Store.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture funds the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program nation-wide. It is expected to continue locally through February.

The schedule for the rets of January includes:

• January 22nd, Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, 4-H Fairgrounds, 12690 NYS Route 31, Knowlesville, entrance is on Taylor Hill Road and not on Route 31. The line on Taylor Hill will need to go south away from Route 31.
• January 29th, Community Action Store, 113 South Main Street, Albion

John Kurtz of Albion, left, carries a box of food with produce, meat and dairy this morning. Jesse Underwood of Clarendon is at right. He volunteered as a member of ABATE, a local group of motorcyclists.

Cars started to line up around 6, about two hours before the event started.

Kurtz and Underwood were among a new group of volunteers at the event coordinated by the Orleans County Office for the Aging and Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.

“There are a lot more people in need right now,” Underwood said.

Leslie Spofford of Clarendon also volunteered for the first time this morning at a food distribution, which has been happening most weeks locally since April. Spofford had the day off from her job as Runnings in Brockport and wanted to help.

By 7:30 this morning the line of cars was down three streets in Albion. This shows vehicles on East Park Street. They were also waiting on McKinstry and Chamberlain streets.

About 300 boxes of food are given away at the events. The start times are approximately 8:30 a.m. (If the Foodlink truck is there and unloaded, the event may start sooner.) Organizers are ask people not to line up before 8 a.m. due to possible winter weather conditions.

The Oak Orchard Harbor and Johnson Creek in Carlton, near Lakeside Beach State Park, are both on a state list to be dredged.

The state has a $15 million regional dredging initiative the Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI).

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Thursday said dredging harbors along Lake Ontario remains a priority. Dredging started at Little Sodus Bay, a navigation channel in Cayuga County used by boaters to access Lake Ontario from Little Sodus Bay.

File photo: The dredging barge is near the breakwall at the end of the Oak Orchard channel when the harbor was dredged in August 2014 for the first time in 10 years.

The dredging project will remove built-up sediment from the bottom of the waterway to allow for continued safe passage of watercrafts to support the tourism economy and preserve wildlife in the region.

The Oak Orchard Harbor dredging is scheduled to start in June 2021 and the Johnson Creek Harbor will get attention in July 2021, the state has previously said.

“We’re building the resilience of communities along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River to prevent flooding and ease maintenance of vital navigation channels for years to come,” Cuomo said. “This dredging project is essential to protecting not only New Yorkers who live and work in shoreline communities but also the wildlife in the coastal habitats of the region, while also boosting tourism by ensuring safe recreational access for boaters.”

To date, the State has completed four REDI dredging projects, and removed approximately 15,000 cubic yards of sediment, to provide recreational boaters with safe access to Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

The completed dredging projects include Port Bay, Blind Sodus Bay and East Bay in Wayne County, and Sandy Pond Inlet in Oswego County. Through Phase I and II, the dredging initiative is tackling the necessary dredging of 20 harbor navigation channels. Upon completion of the project, over 100,000 cubic yards of sediment is anticipated to be dredged, Cuomo’s Office said.

Future regional dredging initiative sites include:

• Oswego County: Salmon River/Port Ontario
• Niagara County: Olcott Harbor, Golden Hill State Park
• Orleans County: Oak Orchard Harbor, Johnson Creek
• Monroe County: Sandy Creek, Braddock Bay, Long Pond Outlet, Irondequoit Bay
• Wayne County: Bear Creek Harbor, Pultneyville
• Jefferson County: Clayton French Creek Marina, Henderson “The Cut”
• St. Lawrence County: Ogdensburg “City Front Channel,” Morristown Navigation Channel

During Phase III, the State will provide counties with the information they need to update, expand, and implement an existing Regional Dredging Management Plan to keep the channels operational over time.

In response to the extended pattern of flooding along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, Cuomo created REDI to increase the resilience of shoreline communities and bolster economic development in the region.

Five REDI Regional Planning Committees, comprised of representatives from eight counties (Niagara and Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga and Oswego, and Jefferson and St. Lawrence) were established to identify local priorities, at-risk infrastructure and other assets, and public safety concerns.

The REDI Commission allocated $20 million for homeowner assistance, $30 million to improve the resiliency of businesses, and $15 million toward a regional dredging effort that will benefit each of the eight counties in the REDI regions. The remaining $235 million has been allocated towards local and regional projects that advance and exemplify the REDI mission, Cuomo’s Office stated.

“Addressing the damage and erosion from high water events and wave impacts are essential elements of Governor Cuomo’s REDI initiative that is creating stronger communities along Lake Ontario’s shoreline,” said Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos.

With neighboring states already well underway with their full winter sports seasons athletic administrators across the state and state legislators this week stepped up pressure to get Governor Andrew Cuomo to allow the “High Risk” winter sports of basketball and wrestling to begin their seasons.

State Assemblyman Colin Schmitt from New Windsor introduced legislation to “compel the New York State Department of Education and the NYS Department of Health to allow interscholastic sports to be cleared to play this year using proper COVID-19 safety protocols.”

Assemblyman Schmitt stated that “interscholastic sports are an integral part of the school experience and a way to maintain a semblance of normalcy in an upended world.”

Schmitt continued that “currently some sports are being played in New York while others like basketball, football, ice hockey and more are not allowed, despite a majority of states, including neighboring New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut allowing basketball competition to begin this week.”

He added ” New York’s student-athletes should have equal opportunity to safely compete in all sports just like students in a majority of states in our nation. Medical and scientific data prove interscholastic sports using the proper protocols is safe during Covid-19.”

The New York State Athletic Administrators Association likewise sent a very pointed letter to the governor imploring Cuomo to “reconsider the decision to forego “high-risk” sports for the Winter and potentially for the remainder of the school year to permit play to begin immediately so these athletes can salvage a small season as some end their high school athletic careers.”

The letter continued “as a professional association, we ask for this with the knowledge that those sports are not only safe to run, but will be overseen by Athletic Administrators that have worked tirelessly to develop protocols to deal with the COVID-19 virus should there be an isolated case.  There are many documents authored by groups concerned directly with maintaining a safe environment for students, staff, and the surrounding communities and should be considered as a guide to the opening of a full sports program.  We have followed the NFHS, CDC, and DOH guidelines to the letter to begin our limited seasons and now feel confident that after seeing how the rest of the country has celebrated successes, it is time for New York to lead again.”

Additionally the letter stated to the Governor that ” you will note that many states have conducted research on the rate of transmission directly correlated with the number of cases and subsequent quarantines causing cessation of contests.  In every study there were less than 1% new cases and a much lower percentage resulting in suspensions or cancellations of contests.  There is no valid, scientific reason to assume that interscholastic sports are dangerous at any risk level. In fact, those state’s health departments seem to vary on which sports are actually “high-risk” and those that are not.  New York, for some reason, has a much different, subjective assessment in place.”

The letter continued that “furthermore, surrounding states have seen the necessity of keeping school sports programs operating and have identified mental health and increasing the socio-economic gaps as potential factors in cases of student depression and lower grades while engaged in some form of virtual learning. Student health and growth academically, emotionally, and physically are what is a part of every child’s life and we are the experts that contribute to that growth.  The Educational Framework for Athletics, a New York State Education Department document, is the lifeblood of our association and we see the benefits of our programs far beyond the classroom.”

In addition another lawsuit is being planned by the Buffalo law firm of HoganWillig demanding that the state to allow youth and high school “High-Risk” sports to begin playing. That is the law firm  which  this week successfully sued New York State to allow Erie County restaurants which are in an “Orange” zone to resume serving customers inside under “Yellow zone limitations of 50 percent capacity.

Time though is now certainly a factor in getting approval for the High Risk winter sports to begin as the so-called “Fall 2” season for the postponed High Risk Sports of football, volleyball and competitive cheerleading is scheduled to begin on March 1 to be followed by the regular spring sports season starting in mid April.

2 counties combined pass 5,000 Covid cases in pandemic

Orleans and Genesee counties combined are reporting 99 more Covid-19 cases today, which pushes the two counties past 5,000 since March at the start of the pandemic.

The two counties together have 97,632 people (57,280 in Genesee and 40,352 in Orleans, according to the 2019 Census estimate.) With 5,066 confirmed cases, that represents 5.2 percent of the combined population who have had Covid-19.

Genesee has had a higher percentage of its population test positive compared to Orleans. Orleans has had 4.5 percent (1,833 out of 40,352) while in Genesee, the percentage of the population that has tested positive is 5.6 (3,233 out of 57,280).

In Orleans County, today there are 50 new confirmed cases for 1,833 total since March.

The positive cases reside in the West Region (Yates, Ridgeway, Shelby), Central Region (Carlton, Gaines, Albion, Barre) and East Region (Kendall, Murray, Clarendon).

The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. Of the new cases, 2 were on quarantine prior to testing positive.

The new cases include two residents of Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina.

Orleans County hosted a rapid Covid testing clinic on Wednesday at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. Of those 513 tests, 22 were positive for Covid, including 21 Orleans County residents.

Orleans is reporting 34 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation.

Orleans currently has 17 residents hospitalized due to Covid.

• Albion Central School is reporting today that three students – hybrid student from the High School and two hybrid students from the Middle School – have tested positive for Covid-19. One of the students was last in school on Jan. 5. Due to the 48-hour look-back period, the Department of Health determined there is no need to quarantine any additional staff or students, the district stated on its website.

The second and third students were in school on Jan. 11. Students and staff members deemed to have been in close contact with the student have been identified by the Department of Health.

• Medina Central School is reporting today a student at Wise Middle School has tested positive for Covid. The district is in the process of notifying the families of anyone who may have come into close contact with the student.

Out of an abundance of caution, this student’s class will switch to 100 percent virtual during the quarantine period, said Mark Kruzynski, the district superintendent, in a letter on the district website.

In Genesee County, there are 49 new confirmed cases of Covid reported today for a total of 3,233 positive cases since March.

The new positive cases reside in the West Region (Alabama, Darien, Pembroke), Central Region (Alexander, Batavia, Bethany, Elba, Oakfield) and East Region (Bergen, Byron, LeRoy, Pavilion, Stafford).

The individuals are in the age groups of 0-19, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

Genesee also is reporting 66 of the previous positive individuals have recovered and been removed from the isolation list. (The Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments said there was a miscount for reporting the number of people recovered yesterday. There were 2,517 people recovered from Covid-19 yesterday in Genesee County, not 2,515.)

Genesee also has 10 people hospitalized due to Covid.

The county also has had two more residents pass away due to a Covid-related illness. They were both residents over age 65 at Premier Genesee Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation in Batavia. Genesee has now had 39 people die due to Covid, including 32 since Dec. 1.

NYS Vaccination Sites – Message from the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments: (Updated today) The “Am I Eligible” website has changed this afternoon to only show the NYS-run vaccination sites. The Covid-19 Vaccination Hotline is for scheduling vaccination appointments for eligible New Yorkers at the New York State-run vaccination sites only: 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829). Use their online tool to find a location. Appointments are required. If you visit a location without an appointment you will not receive a vaccine. We apologize for any confusion, the state just updated this information late this afternoon.

State Sen. Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, responded to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s renewable energy proposals in his third State of the State Address this week.

Cuomo, in his address, touted a 200-megawatt solar project in Orleans County. “Orleans Solar” has been proposed by Community Energy in the towns of Barre and Shelby. The company on Dec. 21 went over the project in an online forum. The project would cover 1,300 acres, with about 75 percent in Barre and 25 percent in Shelby.

Ortt said many of these large-scale projects do not give local communities enough say, instead giving the state the ultimate authority in siting the projects.

“(The) announcement of a 200-megawatt solar energy project proposed for Orleans County displays the governor and his administration’s complete disregard for the opinions and desires of Orleans County residents,” Ortt said in a statement. “Residents and local officials have been vehemently opposed to industrial energy projects proposed in the past, yet Gov. Cuomo continues to ignore our concerns. Along with disrupting and destroying the quality of life where these projects are placed, they also raise energy costs for local businesses and families.

“Democrats in Albany are intent on silencing the voices of our community so that they may fulfill socialists’ desires for a Green New Deal,” Ortt said.

The Finger Lakes Region, which was the leading the state with the highest positivity rate and hospitalization rate, is seeing a drop in both.

The Region, which includes Orleans and eight other counties, is still above the statewide average for positive tests – 6.95 percent on Wednesday in the state compared to 8.28 percent in the Finger Lakes.

The Finger Lakes had the fourth highest percent on Wednesday, behind the 9.18 percent in the Mohawk Valley, 8.69 percent on Long Island and 8.45 percent on the Capital Region. The Finger Lakes was over 10 percent as recently as Jan. 7 when it was 10.22 percent.

Wyoming County has the highest positivity rates among the nine counties in the Finger Lakes Region in the past seven days (10.1 percent) and in the past 14 days (12.4 percent).

Positivity rate in Finger Lakes Region counties

• Genesee, 8.2% last 7 days; 10.1% last 14 days
• Livingston, 8.2% last 7 days; 9.6% last 14 days
• Monroe, 8.1% last 7 days; 8.8% last 14 days
• Ontario, 8.4% last 7 days; 9.4% last 14 days
• Orleans, 9.3% last 7 days; 9.8% last 14 days
• Seneca, 7.1% last 7 days; 8.5% last 14 days
• Wayne, 8.0% last 7 days; 8.8% last 14 days
• Wyoming, 10.1% last 7 days; 12.4% last 14 days
• Yates, 9.7% last 7 days; 9.7% last 14 days

Among the 10 regions, the Finger Lakes has the fourth highest percent positive in last 7 days at 8.3 percent. That’s less than the Mohawk Valley, 9.2 percent; Long Island, 8.7 percent; and the Capital Region, 8.4 percent. Western NY was at 7.4 percent. The Southern Tier is the lowest at 4.3 percent

Going back 14 days, the positivity rate in the Finger Lakes is 9.1 percent, which is lower than the Mohawk Valley, 9.8 percent; Capital Region, 9.2 percent; and the same as Long Island, 9.1 percent. Western NY is at 7.9 percent over the past 14 days and the Southern Tier, at 4.8 percent, is the lowest among the 10 regions.

Hospitalizations

The number of people hospitalized due to Covid in the Finger Lakes was 830 on Wednesday, which is down from 874 on Tuesday, 919 on Jan. 1 and a high of 964 on Dec. 28.

While hospitalizations are decreasing the Finger Lakes, they have been steadily rising statewide. The 8,929 hospitalizations on Jan. 12 was the most since 9,179 on May 5. The state reached a pandemic high with 18,825 on April 12.

Governor announces several initiatives in renewable energy agenda

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday noted a 200-megawatt solar energy project proposed in Orleans County is part of the state’s push to embrace a “green economy.”

Cuomo, during a third State of the State address this week, touted “Orleans Solar” which has been proposed by Community Energy in the towns of Barre and Shelby. The company on Dec. 21 went over the project in an online forum. The project would cover 1,300 acres, with about 75 percent in Barre and 25 percent in Shelby.

Community Energy expects it will complete the permitting process by the second quarter in 2022, with construction to commence in the third quarter of 2022. Interconnection to the grid would be complete in the third quarter 2023, with construction done the fourth quarter that year. That was the timeframe presented by Joe Green, director of development for the company based near Philadelphia, Pa. For more on the project, click here.

Cuomo said the state has several proposals to expand and facilitate renewable energy projects, including the largest offshore wind program in the nation  near Long Island. Cuomo also said the state will become a global wind energy manufacturing powerhouse and will create a green energy transmission superhighway.

“We are proposing the largest wind programs in the nation and advancing our green manufacturing capacity and the jobs that go with it,” Cuomo said. “Our new energy superhighway will be optimized by state-of-the-art battery storage facilities, so we can store renewable energy to be used when needed. These projects will not only create power but bring needed economic opportunity to struggling parts of our state, create green jobs, and make New York State a global wind energy manufacturing powerhouse.”

Governor Cuomo continued, “Green energy is a pressing moral imperative and a prime economic opportunity. New York can and will be the nation’s leader for renewable energy innovation and production, all while securing jobs of the future for New Yorkers. Our entire green energy program will create a total 12,400 megawatts of green energy to power 6 million homes, directly create more than 50,000 jobs, and spur $29 billion in private investment all across the state.”

The proposals and projects announced by the governor include:

• Largest Offshore Wind Program in the Nation: The state will contract with Equinor Wind US LLC for the development of two new offshore wind farms more than 20 miles off the shore of Long Island, in what is the largest procurement of renewable energy by a state in U.S. history. Upon completion, the two offshore wind farms will yield a combined 2,490 megawatts of carbon-free energy, bring another $8.9 billion in investment, and create more than 5,200 jobs.

Once the large-scale renewable and offshore wind farms are complete, more than half of New York’s electricity will come from renewable sources, putting the state ahead of schedule toward reaching its goal of 70 percent renewable energy by 2030.

• Global Wind Energy Manufacturing Powerhouse: New York has secured commitments from companies to manufacture wind turbine components within the state and build the nation’s largest offshore wind program.

The projects will leverage almost $3 of private funding for every $1 of public funding, for a combined $644 million investment in these port facilities, and will ultimately yield 2,600 short- and long-term jobs in the offshore wind industry.

Plans to make New York State a global wind energy manufacturing powerhouse include upgrades to create five dedicated port facilities, including:

• The nation’s first offshore wind tower-manufacturing facility to be built at the Port of Albany.
• An offshore wind turbine staging facility and operations and maintenance hub to be established at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal.
• Increasing the use of the Port of Coeymans for cutting-edge turbine foundation manufacturing, and
• Buttressing the ongoing operations and maintenance out of Port Jefferson and Port of Montauk Harbor in Long Island.

• Construct New York’s Green Energy Transmission Superhighway: As New York builds substantial capacity to generate clean energy Upstate, the next challenge is to create a modern transmission system capable of delivering this electricity efficiently to high-demand areas Downstate. Last year, New Yorkers utility bills reflected approximately $1 billion in unnecessary “congestion costs” because of bottlenecks on our antiquated transmission grid, Cuomo said.

In 2021, New York State will construct a new green energy superhighway of 250 miles, Cuomo said. The $2 billion project will create opportunities to maximize the use of renewable energy for the parts of the state that still rely on fossil-fuel plants.

Construction has already started on the New York Power Authority’s 86-mile Smart Path project from Massena to Croghan, and construction will soon start on several key projects in Western New York, Mid-Hudson, and the Capital Region.

The state will issue a Request for Proposals for transmission arteries to bring renewable energy from Upstate and Canada to New York City. Supercharging the new transmission superhighway will be vital to completing New York’s nation-leading green economic recovery and accelerating renewable energy development programs. Current and planned investments will result in more than 1,000 jobs and $5 billion of public and private sector investment.

• Public-Private Partnership to Build Nearly 100 Renewable Energy Projects: New York’s clean energy transformation has accelerated rapidly over the past five years, Cuomo said. During this period, the State has contracted for the construction of 68 new large-scale renewable energy facilities including solar farms, onshore wind farms, and three offshore wind farms that are among the largest in the nation. These investments in renewable energy have brought economic activity to 34 distinct counties, will add 6,100 megawatts of clean energy capacity to the state’s infrastructure, and generate investment of more than $12 billion.

The state will contract for another 24 large-scale renewable energy generation projects in 2021, to bring the State’s total clean energy build-out to nearly 100 projects. The 23 solar farms and one hydroelectric facility will be the most cost-efficient clean energy construction to date in New York, producing more than 2,200 megawatts of clean power, generating more than $2.9 billion of investment and creating 3,400 jobs in 16 counties Upstate.

• Energy Storage Projects: New York will continue to develop and deploy state-of-the-art renewable energy storage technology and facilities to generate electricity, build the capacity for storage, and help the state achieve its ambitious climate plans.

To that end, the New York Power Authority has already begun construction on a large-scale, 20-megawatt battery storage project in Northern New York, one of the largest storage projects in the State’s growing portfolio of almost 1,000 megawatts of contracted storage projects.

These projects will help meet the electricity demands of 1.2 million New York homes using renewable energy. In addition, these projects will help continue propelling this fast-growing job sector.

• Train the Green Energy Workforce: New York’s accelerated renewable energy development program is creating thousands of well-paying jobs. To make sure all New Yorkers benefit directly from growth in this sector, the State is investing $20 million in a new Offshore Wind Training Institute based at SUNY Stony Brook and Farmingdale State College.

The Institute will train at least 2,500 New Yorkers for good-paying jobs in wind and renewable. energy.

Press Release, Heritage Wind

BARRE – Apex Clean Energy’s Heritage Wind project has filed its application with the Office of Renewable Energy Siting to transfer its Article 10 permit application to the new Section 94-c permitting process.

Because Heritage Wind’s application was previously deemed complete on December 8, 2020 under the Article 10 process, its transfer application shall also be deemed complete in accordance with Section 94-c.

The comprehensive Article 10 permit application filed for the project consisted of 41 exhibits as well as numerous supporting figures, graphics, and studies. The full application and supplemental materials can be found on the project website at www.heritagewindpower.com.

“Transitioning to the new permitting process will provide both Heritage Wind and community stakeholders more certainty regarding permitting conditions while keeping the commitments we have made to the Town of Barre, Orleans County, and area school districts on host community benefits,” said Carmen O’Keefe, Development Manager with Apex Clean Energy. “We will continue to work together with our local government partners and the community under this new process and look forward to bringing this major economic development opportunity to the region.”

The proposed Heritage Wind project consists of 33 wind turbines to be located within the Town of Barre in Orleans County. If approved and built, the project would generate enough homegrown New York clean energy to power over 45,000 homes. It would also create millions of dollars in economic activity for the Town of Barre and Orleans County, including an estimated $50 million in new revenue for the town, county, and local school districts. The project would also support about 200 construction jobs and up to 6 local full-time jobs once the project is operational.

Under the Section 94-c process, the Office of Renewable Energy Siting is expected to publish draft permit conditions and schedule a public hearing regarding those conditions within 60 days of a transfer application being deemed complete.

Following this hearing and public comment period an adjudicatory process may take place, if deemed necessary. A final determination regarding the project is required within 1 year of an application being deemed complete. For Heritage Wind the anticipated timeline for a permit being issued is January 2022. If approved, Heritage Wind would likely commence construction in 2022 and begin commercial operations in late 2023.

Photo by Tom Rivers: A dock is pictured in Medina’s Canal Basin in this photo from a recent fall day. Medina has received a grant to add a kayak launch at the canal.

MEDINA – The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor announced a $10,500 grant today to help develop and install an ADA-accessible kayak launch on the Erie Canal in downtown Medina.

This is one of 13 Erie Canalway IMPACT! grants for non-profit organizations and municipalities. The grants total $108,787 and will advance projects that preserve and showcase canal heritage, educate youth and welcome people to explore the canal in their local communities, the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor said in a news release.

The grants range from $1,500 to $12,000 and will leverage an additional $146,630 in private and public project support.

“As the pandemic continues to present abnormal challenges it is especially gratifying to support diverse canal inspired innovations,” said Bob Radliff, executive director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. “We are so pleased to make these timely investments and contribute to the resilience of our canal communities.”

The organization now has made 96 grants to communities and non-profit organizations since 2008 that have spurred $2.49 million in additional investments in heritage preservation, recreation, and education, Radliff said.

The IMPACT! grants are made possible with funding support provided by the National Park Service and the NYS Canal Corporation.

“We are proud to support this year’s IMPACT! grant recipients as the winning projects will positively improve canalside communities while ensuring the New York State Canal System continues to drive economic growth while safeguarding the environment and preserving the history of the nation’s most iconic waterway for the next generation,” said Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton.

The 2021 Erie Canalway IMPACT! grant awards include:

• Buffalo Maritime Center, Buffalo – Award: $12,000 to create an exhibit dedicated to the Haudenosaunee alliance of Native Americans and Erie Canal history to complement Buffalo Maritime Center’s building of the Packet Boat, Seneca Chief.
• Canal Society of New York State, Port Byron – Award: $5,300 to install wayside signs to improve outreach and accessibility to cultural and natural resources at the Erie Canal Heritage Park at Port Byron.
• Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum, Chittenango – Award: $9,967 to produce a virtual 3-D tour of the museum complex to expand outreach efforts and create new opportunities for education. In addition, develop a STEM-based distance learning program for youth blending concepts of robotics and canal infrastructure.
• City of Amsterdam – Award: $11,757 to institute creative, place-based visitor enhancements at Riverlink Park and Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook.
• Corn Hill Navigation, Pittsford – Award: $11,388 to implement a variety of educational initiatives aboard the Sam Patch, including a bird watching tour in partnership with the Montezuma Audubon Society, and hands-on learning for students in the Erie Canal Environmental Education program, which blends STEM, history, and environmental curriculums.
• Erie Canal Museum, Syracuse – Award: $11,000 to partner with restaurants and other local businesses to offer public programming on the Erie Canal’s relationship to food, specifically as it pertains to agriculture, irrigation and transportation of goods.
• Erie Canal Discovery Center/Niagara County Historical Society, Lockport – Award: $4,180 to support the development of five virtual lessons on the history, geography, engineering and national impact of the Erie Canal.
• Lumber City Development Corporation, North Tonawanda – Award: $3,500 to install a historic mural near the dock area at Gateway Harbor Park in the City of North Tonawanda, enhancing the beauty of the park for visitors while establishing a strong sense of place and heritage.
• Montezuma Audubon Center, Savannah – Award: $10,865 to organize a Canalway Conservation Corps to develop early detection invasive species management programs and STEM-based educational opportunities at the Montezuma Wetlands Complex.
• Village of Brockport – Award: $4,830 to enhance Brockport’s self-guided walking tour by upgrading tour materials and interpretive panels.
• Village of Medina – Award: $10,500 to develop and install an ADA accessible kayak launch located on the Erie Canal in the heart of downtown Medina.
• Village of Newark – Award: $1,500 to repair vandalism damage to a prominent Erie Canal themed mural on the canalfront and guard against further damage or deterioration with protective coatings.
• Western New York Land Conservancy, Inc., East Aurora – Award: $12,000 to transform an unused rail corridor into The Riverline, an iconic, innovative, and inspiring nature trail and greenway along the Buffalo River near the terminus of the Erie Canal.

Press Release, New York State Association of Counties

The New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) on Wednesday called on the new Congress to pass a Coronavirus Stimulus Package that provides federal aid to state and local aid governments.

NYSAC’s call follows Tuesday’s announcement by incoming Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand supporting legislation that will assist New York State and its local governments.

The bi-partisan Direct Support for Communities Act provides local governments with direct federal relief that can be used to pay for essential services, retain frontline workers, and offset lost revenues and increased costs from the Covid-19 emergency.

Since March of last year, counties across New York have seen their revenues plummet by an estimated $1.5 billion. Sales tax losses could reach $325 million for counties through 2021, state revenue cuts represent a $645 million loss, potentially increase to $965 million through 2021, and Native American gaming revenues and hotel occupancy taxes amount to almost $220 million in losses for counties through 2021.

“For nearly 10 months, local governments have deployed every tool at their disposal to protect New Yorkers and provide the essential services as an economic crisis devastated local revenues. But time is running out,” said NYSAC President and Ontario County Board Chair Jack Marren. “Counties applaud the continued leadership of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and the NY House delegation on fighting for direct aid, and they should pass a bill within the first 100 days of the new administration. Our local governments need help to end this pandemic and get life back to normal.”

“This bill provides the direct, flexible and unrestricted aid counties need to make up for the unprecedented revenue shortfalls brought on by the pandemic,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario. “Without this direct aid, counties will be hamstrung to do the essential work necessary to end the pandemic, including setting up Covid-19 vaccination sites, providing contact tracing and testing, and delivering essential services to children, families and seniors who have been struggling during the pandemic.”