Galloo wind farm approvals pursued

The application is available from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at the town barn, 18774 County Route 66.

The drive for approvals on several fronts has begun for the proposed Galloo Island Wind Farm.

This week, developer Upstate NY Power Corp. submitted the site plan application for the wind farm to the town of Hounsfield Planning Board. Before the site plan can be approved, the state environmental quality review process must be completed by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Earlier this month, Upstate NY Power Corp. received approval from the Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency for a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement separate from the uniform tax-exempt policy in development for wind projects across the county.

Town Supervisor Martin A. DelSignore said the Planning Board scheduled a work session for Monday to begin working through the site plan application, which he described as "several inches thick."

"Our time frames are very compressed," he said.

The pressure is on because Upstate NY Power wants a federal Treasury Department rebate for 30 percent of wind project development costs. The program is available only for projects in which at least some turbines are constructed by the end of 2010.

Upstate NY Power expects to submit a final environmental impact statement by year's end to DEC, spokeswoman Beth O'Brien said Thursday. Ms. O'Brien works for development partner Pattern Energy Group LP, San Francisco.

On the PILOT, JCIDA is distributing information about its plan to the involved taxing jurisdictions. A public hearing on the revenue side of the PILOT will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Hounsfield Town Barn. The town, county and Sackets Harbor Central School District will have to devise a way of sharing the PILOT proceeds.