Hoffman Falls Wind
A new era for wind energy in Central New York
Project Details
TURBINES
50-72
MEGAWATTS
Latest News
Fall 2021: 1st Open House Summary
On Thursday July 15th, Liberty hosted the first public open house for the Hoffman Falls Wind project. Below you can find a short summary of the event, as well as links to the materials shared.
- Roughly 70 people attended, representing local government representatives, project participants, interested neighbors and concerned citizens.
- Liberty Renewables had 7 staff and consultants present who could speak to different aspects of the project:
- Molly Dunton, Project Developer, Liberty Renewables
- Augusta Mead, Jr. Project Developer, Liberty Renewables
- Toni Secreti, Project Coordinator, Liberty Renewables
- Diana Rood, Senior Land Agent, CanAcre
- Meg Lee, Senior Environmental Analyst, EDR
- Pat Heaton, Principal, Cultural Resources & GIS, EDR
- Chris Hoyt, Project Scientist, Epsilon Associates
- Common questions included:
- Where exactly will the turbines be located?
- Liberty has proposed turbine locations, but is still working to finalize these locations as we work through our environmental permit application. A draft site layout with these locations will be shared as soon as possible.
- What is the land use impact of the project?
- Each turbine will require roughly 1 acre of land at the base of the tower, as well as an additional .5 – 1 acre of land for other infrastructure such as access roads and collection (i.e. power) lines. Liberty estimates about 35 acres of land will be required for Hoffman Falls Wind once construction is completed. Existing roads will be used wherever possible, and all collection lines will be buried at least 4 feet deep.
- Visual impacts?
- As part of the NY State 94c permit process, Liberty will complete a comprehensive visual impact analysis and simulation for Hoffman Falls Wind. Specific concerns were raised regarding a few sensitive local viewsheds, and Liberty will prioritize those areas in its analyses.
- How will this project impact my property values?
- After years of study by the federal government as well as universities, no negative net impact of the construction of wind turbines has been determined on property values of homes in close proximity.
- Where exactly will the turbines be located?
- Other feedback on the project included:
- Expand consultation radius to include all zip codes impacted by project
- Improve project specific branding to better distinguish this project from others proposed for Madison County
- Host next community meeting as soon as draft project layout is ready to be shared, including information on setbacks and other constraints
- Execute road use agreements with all host towns
We want to thank everyone who came out! Feedback from communities like yours helps us improve our projects. Please stay tuned for more information on opportunities to engage with our staff, and don’t hesitate to reach out using the contact information at the bottom of this page.
Poster: NY State 94-c Permit Process
July 2021: You're Invited!
THURSDAY, JULY 15th, 2021: HOFFMAN FALLS WIND PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE
We are in the early stages of developing a new project in the Fenner area and want to connect with you. Liberty staff and regional experts will be available during the event to provide information, answer your questions and address any concerns. Food, drink, and materials to be provided. We hope to see you there!
WHEN: Thursday July 15th, 2021 from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
WHERE: Nichols Pond County Park (5797 Nichols Pond Road Canastota, NY)
WHO: Residents of all ages from Fenner, Nelson and Smithfield are welcome
Please reach out with any questions or concerns, we’d love to hear from you!
Molly Dunton
Project Developer
mdunton@liberty-renewables.com
June 2021: Summer Newsletter
The first project newsletter for Hoffman Falls Wind is now available:
Download Hoffman Falls Wind Project Newsletter (Summer 2021)
Community Investment
Hoffman Falls Wind offers significant financial contributions to critical local budgets
Host Community Benefit Payments
paid annually to Town governments through a Host Community Benefit Agreement, in additional to monthly utility bill rebates for Town residents
PILOT Payments
shared annually between Towns, the Madison County IDA, and local school districts
Lease Payments
paid annually to local landowners participating in the Project
Shared Community Payment Program
additional annual payments made to Project neighbors
Project Timeline
2020-2023: Development
Development activities include community engagement, land leasing, wind resource assessments, environmental studies, interconnection studies, New York State Section 94-C permit process, and local permitting.
2023-2024: Construction
Construction activities will take approximately 18 months.
2025-2050: Operations
Post-construction monitoring for wildlife, sound, and other environmental compliance measures will continue for 2 years. The project will have an operational lifespan of at least 25 years.
Resources
NYS Wind Energy Guidebook
The Wind Energy Guidebook helps local decision makers and other members of your community understand the process for wind energy development in New York State. It provides objective information on wind energy basics, regulations, and more.
Fact Sheet: Turbine Decommissioning
Landowners and host communities are never responsible for the costs associated with removing wind turbines once they’ve reached their end of life cycle.
Fact Sheet: Wind Energy & Sound
Wind turbine noise may be one of the most misunderstood issues related to wind energy projects.
Friends of Upstate NY Wind
Friends of Upstate NY Wind is a diverse group of organizations with a shared interest in providing accurate information about wind energy and wind energy projects in Upstate New York.
Office of Renewable Energy Siting
The Office of Renewable Energy Siting is responsible for setting the rules and regulations for permitting renewable energy projects larger than 20 MW in New York State.
American Clean Power Association
Formerly the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the American Clean Power Association has resources, news and information about the wind energy industry in the United States.
Western NY Health & Wind Energy Forum
ACE NY, New Yorkers for Clean Power, NY League of Conservation Voters, and Union of Concerned Scientists hosted a forum on health and wind energy in Buffalo, NY on November 21, 2019, with host community members and top scientists.
Wind Power: An Economic Engine for Rural NY
Take a tour through wind farms across New York and hear from local farmers about why they chose wind energy for their businesses and community. Learn more about how Towns and School Districts are putting revenues from wind projects to good use.
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you!
Scott Biggar
Development Manager