About The Project
Current Efforts
September 2022
- Invenergy’s Development Team prepares for an anticipated submission of Bull Run Wind’s 94c permit application in the Spring of 2023. Field work, including bat and bird surveys, archaeological surveys, wetland delineations, and geotechnical testing, among others come to a close as the findings are compiled for review.
December 2021
- Bull Run Wind transitions from the Article 10 permitting process to the 94c structure. The development team hosts landowner event to present project updates, and Ryan Hicks McCann becomes lead developer on the project.
August 2019
- The New York State Article 10 application for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need was submitted for review. Copies of this application can be found at our local office, local libraries and town halls within the project, as well as here on our website and at the NY Public Service Commission's website.
January 2018
- Invenergy opened its regional office in Central New York, creating a more-permanent home base for its New York development team to work on projects including Bull Run Wind.
July 2017
- Another open house was held on the 20th at the Northern Adirondack Central High School to engage community members. Maps of the project were displayed and copies of the Article 10 documents were made available. Additionally, we created posters to summarize the Bull Run project and, more generally, to describe Invenergy as a company.
September 2016
- After receiving feedback from the state on our PSS submission, we revised the document and republished revision 1. Copies of this document can be found on our website as well as on the Department of Public Service's site linked above.
July 2016
- Invenergy's New York development team submitted the PSS, or Preliminary Scoping Statement, as required by the New York Article 10 public service law. Copies of this document can be found on our website as well as on the Department of Public Service's site linked above.
March 2016
- Continuing to pursue the project, the Invenergy team published its revised PIP, or Public Involvement Plan, as required by the New York Article 10 public service law. Public engagement is a critical piece of any of our projects, and engaging the communities of Clinton County about our plans for Bull Run Wind is a priority.
October 2015
- Invenergy's New York development team hosted an open house on the 15th at the Northern Adirondack Central High School to inform members of the community about our project and take questions/comments about Bull Run's development plans
- Roughly 120 people attended our landowner dinner event in October of 2015. The team was excited to see such an enthusiastic turnout at the BBQ.
January 2015
- We began working the comprehensive application required by New York's Article 10 regulations. The application will include studies of wildlife, noise, visual impacts, shadows, wetlands, geology, archaeology, historic structures, economic benefits and many other topics required by state regulations. In parallel with the Article 10 certification process, we are working continually to discuss the project with stakeholders and landowners interested in participating in the Project, refining our understanding of the area's wind resource, selecting the best wind turbines for the project, and refining the project design. The project's website maintained by NYS Department of Public Service is linked here.
February 2014
- Invenergy began development of the Bull Run Wind Energy Center in 2014 and is working to obtain necessary permits and agreements to support a 2021 construction start.
Economic Benefits
In the first 20 years of project operation, the Bull Run Wind Energy Center is projected to pay millions of dollars in property taxes, lease payments to landowners, salaries to employees, and payments for local goods and services, resulting in a significant increase in economic activity in the Clinton County area. Benefits to schools and town and county governments will be realized from annual payments made under payment-in-lieu-of-tax (PILOT) and host community agreement payments.
annually
annually
Why New York?
New York has set ambitious targets to generate up to 50% of its electricity from renewable sources and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030. New York is starting with a significant base of renewable energy generation. Using sources such as hydropower, solar, and wind, New York percentage of renewable energy generation was 20% in 2010 and 22% in 2013. To reach 50%, New York plans to encourage installation of more wind, solar, and renewable generation and improved efficiency to reduce electricity consumption.
As of March 2017, over 1,800 MW of wind energy was operating in New York, generating enough electrictity to power over 600,000 New York households. This generation offsets the need to import or burn other fuels, helping to reduce fuel prices and air emissions.
Wind energy and other renewable energy projects generate substantial economic benefits for New York. A 2013 study by the New York Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) found that between 2005 and 2012, wind energy projects paid over $800 million dollars to New York businesses, landowners, and municipalities.
Wind Benefits New York
- Total Investment: Wind developers like Invenergy have invested over $3.7 billion in New York
- Annual Landowner Payments: Every year, wind farms in New York pay landowners $5 to 10 million
- Wind Industry Employment: The wind industry employs between 1,000 and 2,000 people in New York
- Wind Manufacturing Facilities: 9 facilities in New York produce electrical components utilized by the wind industry
Permitting
Section 94-c was enacted in April of 2020 under the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES), a division of the NYS Department of State, in order to streamline and expedite the permitting process. The 94-c process is meant to replace the previous Article 10 process for solar facilities with capacities greater than 25 MW. The complete regulations can be found on the ORES website.
After submittal of the 94-c application, there is a 30-day window in which individuals may request funding from the Local Agency Account. Within 60 days of the application submittal, the completeness of the application will be determined, and within the 60 days following that a draft permit will be issued. Once the draft permit is issued, there is a 60-day comment period in which the host community will issue a statement of compliance. Depending on the outcome of the comment period, the adjudicatory process may commence. Within one year of the application is determined to be complete, the final permit decision will be issued.
Local Agency Fund
Under 94-c, local agencies and community intervenors may apply for funds for each project to mitigate expenses for review of the proposed projects environmental, public health, and safety impacts. Within thirty (30) days after the deadline for requests for funds from the local agency account, the judge assigned to the case shall award local agency funds, to local agencies and potential community intervenors whose requests comply with the provisions of subdivision (h) of this section, so long as use of the funds will contribute to a complete record leading to an informed permit decision as to the appropriateness of the site and the facility, and for local agencies, shall include the use of funds to determine whether a proposed facility is designed to be sited, constructed and operated in compliance with applicable local laws and regulations. Local agencies and community intervenors must submit their request for funding within 30 days of the project’s application to the Office of Renewable Energy Siting.
Benefits for Host Communities
The Bull Run Wind Energy Center is an unparalleled development opportunity for the host towns, with millions to be invested in the local economy over the life of the project. After careful evaluation, we selected this area for the project because of:
- A verified, strong wind resource;
- Existing transmission lines, minimizing the need for new infrastructure;
- Landowner interest and community support;
We take our commitment to our local host communities seriously and look forward to continuing to work closely with the host towns and Clinton County, contributing to the area's economic development, and to providing an additional supply of clean, homegrown energy in New York.
Environmental Benefits
To avoid and minimize impacts to wildlife and other natural resources, we work with state and federal agencies and other interested stakeholders to site, build, and operate our facilities responsibly. The cornerstone of that effort is our commitment to act in accordance with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Land-based Wind Energy Guidelines, which includes robust pre-construction wildlife and habitat surveys, early and often communication with wildlife agencies, and operational monitoring to ensure risk to wildlife is minimized.
Impact on County Roads
Local roads and infrastructure will be left in the same or better condition than they were prior to their use for the construction or on-going maintenance and repair of the wind project. Invenergy will enter into road agreements with the host town and county to put this commitment in writing.
Land
Wind turbines and access roads have a very small footprint. After construction is completed, landowners can use approximately 98-99% of their land for its previous purpose, whether it be for agriculture, hunting, or timber.